Ohanaeze warns Obi not to rely solely on the northern merger in 2027 polls
The leading pan-Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has advised Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, not to depend entirely on his relationships with northern elites in any purported merger negotiations before to the 2027 elections.
Ohanaeze voiced surprise and scrutiny over Obi’s recent political actions, which have hinted at possible opposition party alignments aimed at unseating President Tinubu in 2027, in a statement released on Thursday by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro.
The statement said, “Over the past nine months, observers have closely monitored Mr. Obi’s subtle political trajectory, particularly in the core North-West and North-East regions, where he has strategic humanitarian initiatives with political intentions to garner broader acceptance in the north and articulate his vision for the upcoming presidential elections.”
Ohanaeze pointed out that Obi’s charitable contributions, community service, and attendance at Muslim events have all been seen as efforts to boost his political profile in the North before the 2027 elections.
On the other hand, the group warned Obi about the dangers and uncertainties that come with his unrelenting search for Northern links.
The statement claimed, “For several noteworthy reasons, the Northern political establishment, religious scholars, and traditional institutions harbor reservations towards Mr. Obi.”
The statement went on, citing Ogbonnaya Onu, Rochas Okorocha, and Chuba Okadigbo as examples of past Igbo presidential candidates who pinned their hopes on Northern endorsement. “Ohanaeze implores him to glean wisdom from the poignant lessons of history,” it said.
The group emphasized that rather than pursuing individualized goals, it is crucial to engage the North within a framework of regional partnership.
The statement added, “It is imperative that Mr. Obi and other potential Igbo presidential candidates internalize these historical narratives and engage the North through a framework of regional collaboration rather than individualistic endeavors.”
Obi met with Atiku Abubakar, the former vice president, on Monday.
Atiku announced the meeting on his X account.
“It was my honor and privilege to host #PeterObi today,” tweeted Atiku.
In a similar vein, Obi held meetings at the residences of Senator Bukola Saraki and Sule Lamido, the former governors of Jigawa State and the Senate, respectively.
