2023: 'Obidient' Train Has Left Atiku Behind, Says Ohanaeze

Igbo socio-cultural organisation Ohanaeze Ndigbo has taken a swipe at the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar, over his recent comments facilitating the Igbo presidency.

The group said that the 'Obidient' train has left Atiku behind and that it was no longer time to talk about the Igbo presidency.

According to Daily Post, the former vice president while addressing stakeholders in the southeast had said that he would be a stepping stone for the presidency to get to Igbos in the country.

Reacting in a statement by the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Thursday, the group stated that neither Atiku nor the other presidential candidates come close to Peter Obi when it comes to competence, credibility and capacity.

“In terms of competence, credibility and capacity, Mr Peter Obi is in a world of his own.

Atiku Abubakar

"Neither Atiku of the PDP nor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, comes close to him.

“Sincerely, Nigerians are really yearning for a Third Force Presidency due to their terrible experience under the APC and the PDP governments since 1999.

"Engr Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Democratic Party, NNDP, even has a stronger presidential profile based on the 3Cs than those of the old brigade like Atiku and Tinubu.

“Atiku should realise that the Obidient train has left him behind.

"This is no longer time to talk about Igbo Presidency, Yoruba Presidency, Hausa Presidency, Ijaw Presidency, Tiv Presidency or Fulani Presidency.

“He should Obidiently listen to Pa Ayo Adebanjo, the Afenifere Leader who said, ‘To keep Nigeria one, everyone must be Obi-Datti compliant’.

"As such, he should emulate elder statesmen like President Obasanjo, Pa E. K. Clark, Pa Olu Falae, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, Gen. T. Y. Danjuma, Rtd, etc to ensure that Nigeria does not miss this unique opportunity for restoration through Peter Obi.

“Secondly, Atiku’s current promise is worth nothing to Ndigbo. In fact, the promise is mischievous and diversionary, coming at this time when Nigerians want to interrogate his presidential profile vis-a-vis the 3Cs.

“Based on the weighty allegations levelled against him by Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State on serially reneging on his promises, how much is his promise worth?

“In 2019, Ndigbo supported him and gave him over 80 per cent of his votes, even when his people rejected him and he could not even win in his State, Adamawa.

"Yet, he, the Waziri Adamawa carefully dodged signing any written agreement with Ndigbo that he would serve only one tenure”, the statement reads.