…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media. An Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has appealed to the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), to withdraw their petitions against President Bola Tinubu without delay.
Obi and Atiku’s Petitions Challenging Tinubu’s Election Victory
Currently, Obi and Atiku are both at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, contesting the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25th presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ohanaeze’s Plea for Unity on Democracy Day
To commemorate the occasion of the 2023 Democracy Day, Ohanaeze released a statement on Monday, June 12, urging Atiku and Obi to withdraw their cases at the tribunal and show their support for Tinubu in the interest of nationalism and patriotism.
Subtitle 4: Ohanaeze Calls for Ideas to Mitigate Hardship
Ohanaeze’s Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, stated that Atiku and Obi should support Tinubu with their ideas to prevent Nigerians from facing severe hardship.
He appealed to them to redirect the funds being used for their legal battles towards supporting Tinubu’s administration.
A Message of Unity and Patriotism
Isiguzoro emphasized that while Atiku, Peter Obi, and Nigerians have the constitutional right to challenge Tinubu at the tribunal and even up to the Supreme Court, he urged them to withdraw their cases for the sake of nationalism and patriotism.
He acknowledged the difficulty of this decision, considering the influence of their lawyers and supporters, but stressed the importance of supporting a progressive president and contributing ideas that will move the country towards productivity.
Ohanaeze’s Recommendations for Tinubu’s Administration
In addition to urging support, Ohanaeze called on Tinubu to ensure that his appointments reflect federal character, which encompasses the fair representation of different ethnic groups.
They particularly emphasized the inclusion of the Southeast and recommended strong ministries that will contribute to the economic and structural transformation of the region.
Plea for the Release of Nnamdi Kanu
Ohanaeze further charged President Tinubu to listen to the appeal made by the governor of Enugu State and release Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
They expressed their desire for an end to the Monday sit-at-home protests associated with Kanu’s detention, urging Tinubu to consider this request.