The Nzuko Umuigbo Worldwide has congratulated the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party for the 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and thanked him for the nomination of Peter Obi as his running mate.
In a message sent from Germany and signed by Chief Joe Mmeh and Mazi Obi Nweke, the organisation frowned at the statements credited to Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and some disgruntled PDP elements in the South East who spoke against the nomination of Obi.
The statement said: “We received with dismay the purported complaints of self-appointed PDP leaders over the choice of Dr. Peter Obi, the ex-Governor of Anambra state as the Vice-Presidential Candidate of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in the forthcoming Presidential election. It is pertinent to note that the Port Harcourt convention that produced Atiku Abubakar had at least 6 Northerners contesting for the Presidency after which everybody teamed up behind the eventual winner and promised to fold their sleeves and work towards a realization of actual Change in Aso Rock in the coming elections.
“We have today, a bunch of political gladiators in Igboland who are parading themselves as PDP leaders complaining that they were not consulted before the VP choice was made. When did it ever happen that the Presidential candidate of a major political party would consult with a region before picking who to join his/her ticket?
“Why are they not looking at the substance of the choice made? Is Peter Obi not overtly qualified to even be top on the ticket? Why would anybody see a blunder in the Obi choice considering, how prepared he has placed himself long before anyone could imagine the situation today?
“Beyond the rhetoric of an eventual Igbo Presidency like we are constantly being taunted with, is the fact that Peter Obi is probably the most qualified Nigerian at the moment to join the Atiku ticket for the realization of a restructured, diversified economy where the citizens equally have faith in a system that promises hope and confidence. Peter Obi’s capacity for good governance is tested and trusted and no better person especially from the South East PDP is as qualified as Peter Obi at the moment.
“Nzuko Umuigbo Worldwide supports Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo under the leadership of Chief Nnia Nwodo, whose position is that the next President must restructure Nigeria and enthrone fiscal federalism. “We reject in its entirety any attempt by these charlatans to push the “drop Obi” agenda any further and we hereby adopt the position of Ohaneze Ndi-Igbo, the apex Igbo Organisation that; Ndi-Igbo accept the choice of Peter Obi and would work for the ATIKU/OBI ticket for the realization of a Nigeria where every Nigerian would have equal opportunities. Nigeria where critical infrastructure would stop being a challenge and a Nigeria where power belongs to the people.”