The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has berated those criticizing former President Goodluck Jonathan for hosting the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, and his running mate, Kashim Shettima.
Ohanaeze said Jonathan should be respected for hosting a man who plotted his downfall in 2015.
The body said Jonathan’s gesture should teach politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and rancor.
In a statement by its Secretary-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze said all presidential candidates should focus on issues-based campaigns.
Isiguzoro said: “This is one of the nationalistic gestures that should be considered as a lesson for the political elites, to eschew politics of bitterness and rancor, and interface with everyone irrespective of whether or not there were grievances in the past.
“Ndigbo expected that all the Presidential candidates for the 2023 elections should focus on issued-based campaigns devoid of tantrums and resentment.
“We are aware of what transpired in 2015, and subsequently led to the then ruling party PDP losing to APC championed by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; Nigerians will witness unprecedented realignment shortly, especially in the interest of the unity of the country regarding power shifting to southern Nigeria from the North in 2023.
“Goodluck Jonathan should be respected for the role of elder statesmanship exhibited by hosting a man who plotted his exit from power.”
Isiguzoro also commended Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State for accepting to be Tinubu’s coordinator in the Southeast.
He said: “Ndigbo commended the chairman of southeast Governors, Governor Dave Umahi for accepting to identify with APC Presidential candidate Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as the APC coordinator for the entire South.”
Isiguzoro further disclosed that Ohanaeze would declare its preferred presidential candidates during the 2022 Igbo Day festival on September 29th, 2022.
“Ndigbo will make a declaration on where Igbos will vote in 2023 on the annual festival of 2022 Igbo Day holding in the ancient city of Aba, in Abia State on September 29th, 2022,” he said.
