*Insists On Nnamdi Kanu’s Release
Barely a week to the 2023 general elections, the Association of Igbo Town Unions, ASITU, has endorsed the Labour Party, LP, Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, as the right choice for the Presidency.
According to the Igbo group, Obi was adopted by the Town Unions in Igboland after “having consulted widely in and outside Igboland and leveraging on his acceptance across board in the whole of Nigeria”
The statement endorsing Obi for the Presidency was signed by Chief Emeka Diwe (National President/PG, Imo State, Hon Chief Gideon Adikwuru (National Secretary), Ihudike Monday Ikokwu (National PRO), Chief (Sir) George U. Mgborukwe (PG, Abia State Town Unions), Chief Barr. Titus Akpudo (National President, ASATU,) Chief (Barr) Paully Eze (Coordinating PG, Enugu State Town Unions), Chief Ugochukwu Akpa (PG, Ebonyi State Town Unions).
The Union assured that an Obi led Presidency would not disappoint the expectations of Nigerians, just as it maintained that the release of leader of the Indigeneous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazu Nnamdi Kanu, “would aid the restoration of law and order in the troubled Igboland and lead to fruitful engagement which will bring about peace and genuine reconciliation”
The Town Unions group however described Mr Peter Obi as a beloved son in whom they are well pleased.
“Our dear Countrymen, he is our beloved son with whom we are well pleased, we guarantee you that he shall never fail you or disappoint your expectations for a greater Nigeria that beams with endless opportunities.
“We confirm and affirm his endorsement by all Nigerians. Please support him, elect him for he is undiluted representative of Ndigbo.
“We the Igbos take full responsibility for his actions and inactions, as we know he shall surpass all your expectations. We tried him as Governor of Anambra State, he did not disappoint. We appeal to you to give him a chance to pull Nigeria out from the doldrums” part of the statement stated.
The group explained that its endorsement of Mr Obi as next President of Nigeria, is also in line with similar endorsements by eminent Nigerian statesmen and elders across ethnic, religious and party lines.
“We can therefore acknowledge without reservation the endorsement of eminent Nigerian Statesmen and Elders, including other Nigerians across ethnic, religious and party lines of Mr. Peter Obi; whom they confirm embodies what Nigeria needs right now to return to the path of sustainable growth and development.
“Notable among these great statesmen, revered Religious Leaders and highly respected Elders are former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Pa Ayo Adebanyo, Chief Edwin Clark, most Northern elders and Nigeria elder statesmen across the country.
“Also endorsed Obi/Dahtti for President are Council of Islamic Shekhs for Good Governance (CISGG) and its affiliate groups, the South Middle Belt Leadership Forum (SMBLF), Yoruba Pan socio-political organisation, Afenifere and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide .
“Other groups include Pan Niger Delta Forum, Democratic Leadership.
“The Fulani Youths under the eagies of Endan Fulaku, the 19 Northern Youth Leaders, so many other youths groups, market women and students organization too numerous to mention. They have all seen in Mr. Peter Obi the panacea to Nigeria’s numerous ills” ASITU stated in its statement.
ASITU gave reasons why it delayed its endorsement of Mr Obi, saying “our reluctance for rush endorsement of any candidate, despite the fact that our son, Mr Peter Obi is in the contest, was a deliberate and conscious decision taken by ASITU.
“The Igbo as you know are “citizens” of every tribe and clime. They live comfortably and invest their all in every Nigerian hamlet and are found in every polling booth. It has therefore not been possible to endorse anyone without regard to critical success factors with regard to good governance, sustainability and intergenerational equity.
The group gave kudos to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Nigerian Youths and Political parties in the country ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“The youths are obviously the strength of the nation, and if we must reclaim our country from systemic collapse, the youths must lead the way. We have also argued at different times and in various occasions that the youths are the greatest stakeholders in the Nigeria project. To our delight, they have now risen to take their pride of place.
“We wish to also appreciate the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), for at least appreciating the great need for conducting credible elections in 2023. Despite some noticeable challenges and shortcomings, we commend them on the measures they have so far put in place to ensure that Nigerians collect their PVCs across the country.
“It is therefore a step in the positive direction that Nigerians turned out in fairly good numbers to collect their PVCs within the period of the last extension for collection for voter cards collection.
“This is very remarkable. It speaks eloquently about the genuine desire of Nigerians to vote and change the circumstances of the country with their votes in the next general elections.
To this end, we join other well-meaning Nigerians of good conscience to congratulate ourselves for such great feat. We do hope that it will translate into action that will usher in the Nigeria of our collective dream
“We also think that the political parties deserve commendations. We are witnessing a slight deviation from the usual campaign of calumny, destruction, and violence that characterized the style of our political campaign in the recent past. There is a seeming change in status quo. Most of them now talk about what they have to offer to Nigerians.
“Apart from pockets of some disgruntled politicians and infractions and thuggery by misguided party supporters, the candidates, especially the presidential candidates, freely transverse tribes and states other than theirs as they sell their manifestos to Nigerians” the statement concluded.