The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, has reiterated that it will not make a decision on the presidential candidate to support in 2023 until all political parties have concluded their primaries.
The group, through his National Publicity Secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia disclosed this to Vanguard in a telephone interview on Thursday, while reacting to the emergence of former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, as the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party.
“In Ohanaeze Ndigbo circle, we are happy with his (Obi) vigorous campaign going around.
“And we are much impressed with what he’s doing and of course, his track records are helping him. And this has given him a lot of advantages and it could be said that he’s on the right side of people.
“And we are much impressed with what he’s doing and of course, his track records are helping him. And this has given him a lot of advantages and it could be said that he’s on the right side of people.
“All the same, it is until all candidates have emerged that we can make a categorical statement pertaining to the presidential election in 2023,” Ogbonnia said.
‘Orji Uzor Kalu on his own’
When asked about the group’s views on Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu drumming support for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan to emerge as presidential candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ohanaeze’s spokesperson said Kalu is on his own.
“When Orji Uzor Kalu was the Governor of Abia State; he started very well and then he had the opportunity of consulting with the people before taking decisions.
“But Orji Uzor Kalu has not sufficiently consulted with his people before taking decisions. To that extent, I will say what Orji Uzor Kalu has done and the decision he has taken is on his own.
“Coming from Abia State, I don’t see him going along with people. As Ohanaeze Publicity Secretary, I was supporting Uzor, in fact, I was supporting every Igbo who aspires to be President.
“Surprisingly, Orji dropped his ambition and rushed to support somebody else’s.
“In the past Orji would consult his people but with this one, I want to tell you that he didn’t consult anyone. He took the decision on his own,” he added.
On the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the Peoples Democratic Party’s presidential contestant, Ogbonnia reaffirmed that the group has not made any remark.
The Ohanaeze’s PRO said, “About three or four days ago, I issued a press release refuting a statement reported to have been credited to Ohanaeze Ndigbo about Atiku.
“I said that we have reserved our comment concerning the candidates vying for Presidency until when all political parties are done with their primary election before we can make a decision on who Igbo should vote in 2023.”
