From Prince Eze, Owerri
Presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 25th February 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has been said to have made Ndigbo proud, and has earned respect for the Igbos.
An Igbo Christian prelate and Chairman, Mezie Imo Clergy Forum, Bishop Prof Athan Azubuike JP, stated this while fielding questions from our correspondent on Wednesday.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in the early hours of Wednesday 1st March, 2023, declared Mr Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, as the winner of the presidential election.
Bishop Azubuike advised Mr Obi to seek redress through the courts as the legal and constitutional avenue to right any perceived wrong or injustice.
The prelate extolled the South East Zone and other Igbos for proving that they belong and believe in the Nigeria project. “Before, we (Igbos) were sitting like people in the island. But today, we have proven that Igbos are Igbos”, he stated.
According to the clergyman, this is the first time Igbos are proving that they really belong to Nigeria since the 1960s, adding that with time, Igbo will attain the highest political office in the nation without violence or force.
He revealed that Peter Obi’s shot at the presidency has proven that the Igbo is an asset for political contest at the highest level, saying that parties were shying away from giving an Igbo the presidential ticket but that henceforth political parties will be eager to hand over their tickets to an Igbo.
He commended other Nigerians for knowing the truth and lending their support to Peter Obi, adding that Nigeria is heading towards a nation where tribe and tongue will not matter but competence and capacity to do what is right for the people.
Bishop Azubuike decried the alleged manipulations, violence, intimidation and rigging that marred the presidential election, which he said were captured in videos as evidence.
Continuing, he said it is not yet Uhuru as the courts will examine all the alleged electoral infractions when the time comes.
