Peter Obi | File Image
Obaraocha: Peter Obi’s ambition to be president should be the main focus of the Igbo in particular and Nigerian youths in general
By Valentine Amanze
A chieftain of the Pan-Igbo group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Valentine Iheukwumere Oparaocha, has appealed to Ndigbo and the Nigerian youths to prioritise the election of Mr. Peter Obi as Nigeria’s president in 2027 than so much energy in the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader.
Though not against the clamour for Kanu’s freedom, Oparaocha argued that no sane Igbo man or woman who suffered consequences of the Nigeria-Biafra war would wish to experience another war to have a country.
Oparaocha said that such agitations go hand-in-hand with bloodletting.
Oparaocha, who spoke in Minna, the Niger State capital, pointed out that Ndigbo are better off in Nigeria than breaking away.
He said, “Ndigbo are better off in Nigeria; hence should be thinking of how to rally other marginalized groups in Nigeria to ensure that justice and equity of having Peter Obi as President of Nigeria in 2027 come to fruition.
“Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu told us before his death that the war is over! Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe also told us it was over! Why must some people still be dragging us back into what they will not be possible.”
Oparaocha, a retired security expert, who contested the Presidency of Ohanaeze-Ndigbo Worldwide against the late business mogul, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and the late Ambassador George Obiozo, reminded those behind the clamour for Biafra of dire consequences: “Anyone calling for war now is on his own.
Also read: Why I’m for Peter Obi, by Dele Farotimi
“The Aburi Accord of 1966 has expired. The Ahiara Declaration of 1969 is dead.
“All forms of separatist agitations should stop because it can lead to nowhere except chaos and another round of siege against the Igbo man.
“Peter Obi’s ambition to be president should be the main focus of the Igbo in particular and Nigerian youths in general. He is tried and tested and that’s why I strongly believe that the Igbo should rally round him at this time to negotiate the interests of Ndigbo world over in Nigeria”.
Instead of silencing people with contrary views about MNK, denials and deprivations against the Igbo man despite being one of the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, the former Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Niger State chapter, said that he has every reason to stand by Peter Obi because, “His method is safe. His plans are good. We can trust him”.
The Igbo, according to him, should not fall for the bait of going all out to champion the release of MNK which the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led administration is already exploiting to his advantage ahead of the 2027 political dispensation, but work for the emergence of Peter Obi as next President.
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