Leader of the South East Grand Cohesion Alliance for Atiku, Kenneth Uzumaki Austin has urged the South-east to accept the olive branch offered to the region by Atiku Abubakar, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and some notably reliable Northern leaders.

Austin said the call became necessary in view of the obvious fact that Labour Party candidate Peter Obi lacks the necessary wherewithal to win the elections as well as the strength of solemn pledges made by Atiku which were all endorsed by reputable Northern leaders.

He assured that he was privy to a meeting held in the residence of a Rtd Military General and onetime Minister of Defence in Abuja, at which part of the deal was concluded and ratified.

According to Austin who spoke on the sidelines of a press conference by the Group in Abakaliki, part of the agreements were that Atiku, if elected president, shall within the first 100 days in office, ensure that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, would be released unconditionally.

This much has been officially confirmed by a former Senate President and the Chairman, Board of Trustees, BoT of the PDP, Adolphus Wabara.The second is that Atiku has promised to work to actualize the dream of an Igbo Presidency by ensuring he hands over to an Igbo successor.

He pointed to Atiku Abubakar’s repeated promises to be a “stepping stone” to Igbo presidency.”One of these affirmations was made by Atiku early this week on Tuesday during the party’s presidential campaign rally in Enugu.This is the third time the PDP candidate would make the promise to Igbos in the South-east.

Atiku first made the promise in September during a zonal conference of the PDP in Enugu.The PDP candidate also made the same promise during his campaign flag off for the South-east region in Awka, Anambra State, in December.Speaking during the rally in Enugu on Tuesday, the former vice-president said he still stood by his words.

Third, he said, is the undertaking by Atiku to cooperate fully in the ongoing ICC investigation and ensure prompt prosecution of the outgoing President Buhari and top officials of his administration like the Attorney General of the Federation, Chief of Army staff, and GOC 82nd Div of the Nigerian Army, for the genocide committed with the Python Dance military operations conducted in the South-east.

“Already the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague is investigating the September 2017 invasion of a community in Abia State by soldiers of the Nigerian Army during a military exercise code-named Operation Python Dance 2 (Egwu Eke Abuo) which would only get the backing and cooperation of government which Atiku has promised.

“In the letter obtained with reference number OTP-CR-413/17 dated March 20, 2018, published by the Sun is the second response by the court to the petitioner, it was confirmed that the military invasion and deaths recorded were already under preliminary examination by the Office of the Prosecutor.

“Part of the letter signed by Mark Dillon, head of the information and evidence unit at the Office of the Prosecutor, read: “Accordingly, your communication will be analysed in this context, with the assistance of other related communications and other available information,” Austin said.

To further prove his point, Austin pointed to a meeting between the Northern Elders Forum and South-east leaders where the NEF chairman, Ango Abdullahi, presented all the terms agreed upon.

Abdullahi, in an interview with the Tribune of February 12, 2023, confirmed this meeting in these words: NEF is still discussing with other stakeholders from other parts of the country who are interested in the elections.

Even today [Thursday], we are having a meeting with the representatives of the Ohanaeze in Abuja.”NEF and Ohanaeze are meeting right now and we don’t know the outcome of their discussion yet,” Austin quoted Abdullahi to buttress his claims.

He concluded by urging the Igbo not to allow sentiments or discontent to hold them back from coming out to vote massively to secure their future based on the promises made by Atiku and the Northern leaders.

“At least Atiku himself has been bold enough to openly declare his position in favour of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whereas even our kinsman, Obi could not do that publicly. “We, the Igbo should key into this agreement reached and sealed by the North and its leaders by taking full advantage of this window of hope by voting massively for Atiku and ensuring their votes count, ” he said.

ENDS

The political aspiration of Rev. Emmanuel Olorunmagba receives a huge boost toady as the Igbo community in Kabba, unanimously endorsed him as the candidate to support for House of Representatives, Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency.

The endorsement was made official during the meeting of various leaders of Igbo community held in Igbo Town Hall, Kabba; today Saturday, February 11, 2023.

Elder Luke also known as Up Jesus had introduced him (Rev Emmanuel) and his team and that this political period is no longer just about political parties, but now about individuals, that have what to offer when they take over power and not just who has the huge cash to offer before the election.

The well known Igbo elder added that having heard from Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba and “having known Emma since he was a boy growing up in Kabba, there is no doubt that in terms of proper representation, he (Emmanuel) stands as the best among the rest.

Speaking on behalf of the Igbo community after brief inner caucus meeting, Pastor Obi who is the leader of the apex group, asked the people their view about the candidature of Rev Emmanuel and they all unanimously chorused that “we are supporting him. He has what it takes. He is our own!”.

Thus he said, “on behalf of my people we welcome you (Rev. Emmanuel) and we have accepted you as our candidate to support for House of Representatives as you can hear our people affirmed, while we continue support Peter Obi as president. We are men of integrity and we are known for standing by our word. And since you are already in alliance with Labour Party in support of Peter Obi, you have made the job easier for us.”

He concluded that they are various leaders representing different groups of Igbo people and they have also agreed to convey the same message to others, telling them that “Rev Emmanuel Olorunmagba is not only capable, but he is also in alliance with Obi and he is even one of us as he is our son, being married to our daughter, we don’t take him as inlaw any longer, but as our own very son. Hence, while voting for Peter Obi for president, let’s also massively vote for Emmanuel Sunday Olorunmagba for House of Representatives in Kabba-Bunu LGA and Ijumu LGA.

By Mike Odeh James

… Tells Electorate to Vote PDP from Top to Bottom for Better Nigeria

As the forthcoming presidential elections draw closer, a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) support Group under umbrella of Makarfi Ambassadors has charged the Nigerian youths to shun money politics and acts inimical to success of the election exercises.

The group which, warned against voting along ethic;tribal or religious sentiments, asked youths not support any candidate because such is from a tribe or has given money

It stressed ,”Money politics is the strongest tool of retrogression ,thus youths must avoid selling their votes for cheap money that would have effect on their live and future generation.

“Don’t Support a candidate because he has the character and vision to take Nigeria out of the woods and make us proud citizens of a functional nation.”

The group in a press statement jointly signed by Mr. Abdullahi Ahmed – Coordinator on General-Matters and Engr. Bolade Aina – Coordinator Planning/Strategy, said now that the February 25, presidential elections around the corner, it’s important that the youths become political conscious of taking their destiny in their hands by voting the People’s Democratic Party from top to bottom .

” The PDP Flagbearer, Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and his running mate Governor Ifeanyi Okowa are a combination designed to rescue Nigeria from shackles of ravaging insecurity caused Boko Haram and banditry; dwindling economy, CBN reckless as well as bad governance .

The statement further reads,”It incontrovertible that the PDP era between 1999 to 2015 was a period Nigerians enjoyed the most flourishing economy; Good educational system , sound health care delivery systems , gradual industrial growth and agricultural development .

“We can authoritatively promise Nigerians that the future will brighter under PDP if it wins the Presidential Elections. No gain saying the difference was crystal clear during the reign of PDP as the ruling party .

“We urge the entire citizens of Kaduna State and Nigerians to restrain from the double stance of APC, not to cajole voters sympathy after sponsoring unfriendly bill and debunking it for parochial advantage at edge of electioneering course.

On Kaduna Guber race , the Makarfi Ambassadors threw it weight behind the PDP candidate, Hon. Isa Ashiru Kudan and his running mate Dr. John Ayuba .

According to the group, Kaduna State has experience to much of anti-people policies and can’t afford to the ruling party APC that has brought so much pains to the citizens in the last seven years .

“We can outrightly trace the high level of insecurity in the state to the collapse of Chiefdoms; demolition of markets areas , sacking of workers and failure to their pensions and gratuities.

“These political anomalies can never happen under the reign of PDP in Kaduna State .We therefore call on our voters to shine their eyes and vote PDP into power again and enjoy a guaranteed good governance with human face.