2003: Igbo Forum urge Nigerians to elect Peter Obi for continual existence of a United Nigeria
...tasks INEC to ensure free and fair election
By Chukwudum Ebele
The
Anambra State chapter of the United Igbo Elders and Stakeholders Forum
(UIEF), a pan Igbo socio cultural organization has urged Nigerians to
speak with one voice for continual existence of Nigeria as one
indivisible entity by electing a credible and competent President in the
person of Mr. Peter Obi in the forthcoming 2023 election.
The
Forum also tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
to avoid being partisan by ensuring free and fair election saying that
the future of the country was tied to the 2023 Presidential election.
The
call was made via a press release issued after an extraordinary
emergency meeting of UIEF, Anambra chapter held at Nimo, Njikoka LGA and
signed by the Acting National President, Hon. Justice Anthony
Iguh(CON), a former Old-New Anambra State Chief Judge, Acting Secretary
General, Prof. Donald Okoli, First Deputy President General &
Coordinator General, Justice Alpha Ikpeama among other signatories.
The
Forum noted that 2023 presidential election is another opportunity for
Nigerians to speak with one voice for continual existence of Nigeria as
one indivisible entity by electing a credible and competent President.
"Now
we have a competent presidential Candidate in the person of His
Excellency Mr. Peter Gregory Obi all Nigerians should rally round him
and elect him as the next president of this Country."
"The
youths of this Country has no business with joblessness and poverty,
and we therefore call on all Nigeria youths to take back their country
by voting massively for Mr. Peter Obi.
"From
global Statistics, Nigeria currently ranked as the poverty capital of
the world despite being endowed with enormous human and material
resources by God. The only thing we lack is a good leader who will
appropriate these gifts of nature for the good of
all, and Mr. Peter Obi has proven to possess the requisite Leadership
Skills, Education and Technical know-how to lift Nigeria from poverty to
riches".
"Nigerians
should throw overboard tribal and religious sentiments in electing the
next president of this Country as no other country in the world has
succeeded on the altar of nepotism, ethnicism, parochialism,
selfishness, tribalism in choosing their leaders". It stated.
The
Forum further appreciated the elder-statesmen like His Excellency,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, and Chief Edwin Clark for
trustfully and honestly standing up for justice, equity and fairness by
endorsing Mr. Peter Obi.
According
to the forum, ,"Igbo leaders and intellectuals in Nigeria before 1960
promoted the idea of One Nigeria and were in the forefront
of the crusade that brought independence to Nigeria. Particular of
mention were people like Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and Late Chief Amaechi
Mbazulike. These people made the Colonial masters to relinquish power
to Nigerians and most of them were imprisoned for
this cause. Despite securing power for the Country willingly ceded the
position of Prime Minister to the North thereby confirming the selfless nature and an accommodating spirit of an Igbo Man.
"Moreso,
there was a time in the history of this Country that a Fulani Man from
Sifawa in Sokoto Caliphate, Mallam Umaru Altine was the first elected
Mayor of Enugu (1952-1958).
"After
the end of Civil War in 1970 with instituted Policy of Federal
Government via Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation, no
Igbo-man has been given an opportunity to provide leadership at the
highest office of Nigeria.That now we have a competent presidential
Candidate in the person of His Excellency Mr. Peter Gregory Obi that all
Nigerians should rally round him and elect him as the next president of
the Country," they said.
Moreover,
UIEF advised the Federal Government to be proactive in handling the
Security challenges in the Country through adopting
technology in fighting crimes as development is a function of security.
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