2019: Nwabueze canvasses Igbo support for Atiku/Obi ticket BUSINESS

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2019: Nwabueze canvasses Igbo support for Atiku/Obi ticket

By Tony Edike on 14/11/2018

A cross section of Dignitaries at the meeting

Foremost Constitutional Lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Wednesday, urged Igbos to throw their support behind the joint presidential ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, saying actualization of the ticket remains the visible means of political survival for Ndigbo.

He spoke at the meeting of Igbo elders, traditional and religious leaders christened :Ahamefula, Ndigbo and The Future held at Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.

He said that Igbos should work hard to actualize the Atiku/Obi ticket as a special gift to him, stressing that the best position Igbos should take ahead of the forthcoming presidential election was to stand firmly in support of the candidate that can ensure their survival in Nigeria.

“It is unfortunate that those pioneered the independence of the country have been totally alienated in their own country and that is why we are here. We have to support the ticket that will ensure our (gbo) survival. That ticket is the joint ticket of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi.

“We must not allow this opportunity to slip out of our hands. If we, the Igbo leaders gathered here cannot actualize this ticket then we should be ashamed of ourselves. We must work hard to achieve this because it is the best way for us to go at this time.

“We are not campaigning for anybody but we are campaigning for our self survival. We must achieve this joint ticket of Atiku/Obi because it is our desire to do so and we are determined to actualize it. Igbos should do this as their last gift for me.”

Conveners of the meeting said the gathering was to ‘begin a new struggle to assert our full citizenship as Nigerians by insisting on our rights as Ndigbo in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and organize effectively for the attainment of this goal.”

“We must be proud as Ndigbo; be proud as Nigeria; and be proud as African. As an ethnic group Ndigbo have produced Olauda Equiano; the Great Zik of Africa, Dr. M. I. Okpara; Dr. Akanu Ibiam; Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, His Eminence Francis Cardinal Arinze, Professor Chukwura Philip Emeagwali; Professor Chinua Achebe, Professor Barth Nnaji among numerous others. The generation of Ndigbo must not fail,” one of the conveners and former Minister of Health, Professor ABC Nwosu said.

By press time, the meeting was in progress with most of speakers harping on the need for Ndigbo to join hands and ensure the actualization of the Atiku/Obi ticket.

Among personalities present at the meeting were: Professor Ben Nwabueze, Ambassador George Obiozor, Chief Nnia Nwodo (Ohanaeze Ndigbo President), Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Professor ABC Nwosu, Senator Chris Anyanwu, Senator Ben Obi, Chief Achike Udenwa, Professor Mrs. Uche Azikiwe, Chief Onyema Ugochukwu, Senator Theodore Orji, Chief Emeka Ugwu-Oju, Chief Garry Igariwey, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Ambassador Frank Ogbuewu, Professor Osita Ogbu, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, Chief Lawrence Nwuruku, Professor Walter Ofonagoro, Archbishop Maxwell Anikwenwa, Commodore James Aneke (rtd), Professor Elochukwu Amucheazi, Professor Uzodinma Nwala, Senato Adophus Wabara, Air Comdr Allison Madueke, Igwe Afred Achebe, Obi of Onitsha, Prof. Anya O. Anya and Professor Chudi Uwazurike, Major Gen. Obi Umahi (rtd), Uzodinma Okpara, son of the former Premier Eastern Region, Esom Nwafor Orizu, daughter of the former acting President of Nigeria and Hon. Emeka Ihedioha.