2023: Labour Party criticises Atiku for calling Ndigbo “stepping stones”

The People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s claim that he is a stepping stone to the Igbo presidency has been denounced by the Labour Party.

Atiku made this statement in Anambra State during the party’s presidential campaign rally, when he asked Ndigbo to support him in order to realise the Igbo presidency dream after his term was through.

However, Chief Innocent Okeke, the National Vice Chairman (South East) of the Labour Party, characterised Atiku’s statement as callous in a statement made available to Obasanjonews24 on Thursday.

It is ridiculous to ask Ndigbo to support a Northern-Fulani-Muslim ticket when the Igbo have not run for president since 1999 and the North has held power for ten years.At their own game, kleptocrats always try to trick the people they think are listening to them.

Atiku is using antiquated political ploys against Ndigbo. This time, it won’t be successful. The populace is awake and sick of being treated unfairly in a nation in which they possess a significant stake. Atiku wouldn’t have run for president, much less asked for support from the South and Ndigbo in particular, with Buhari from the North finishing his eight years in office next year.

Atiku shouldn’t have entered the presidential race, he said, if he thought he would help Ndigbo regain their proper position.

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“Funnily enough, Atiku was one of those involved in the formulation of the agreement on rotation in 1999. He has seen it in action, and now that Ndigbo has an undeniable right, why does he want to move the goalposts during a game? This must change.

“One might recall that no southerner or Igbo man opposed Atiku and Buhari, both of whom are from the north, with regard to the rotational principle and zoning system that have been implemented.” The South patriotically looked on as a Northerner and a Southerner engaged in combat.

“Now that the South and Southeast have been targeted, why is Atiku running while also travelling to the East to mock and scorn them?”

“Ndigbo has contributed to the success and current unity of Nigeria and is continuing to do so. They are also doing everything they can to keep Nigeria unified. Nigeria’s resistance to embracing fairness has increased tensions. The only tribe that travels everywhere and constructs homes is the Ndigbo, who are responsible for what little togetherness there is. Therefore, telling them that you are their stepping stone to the president is demeaning.

The reason the Igbo want to be president is to repair the harm done to Nigeria over the years. One of their best candidates, whose track record as governor is overwhelmingly positive, was put forward.

“As we anticipate the emergence of a new Nigeria based on facts and faith, nobody should take these forces seriously because they are the architects of Nigeria’s issues.”

You cannot claim to be a stepping stone in Awka after revealing in Kaduna that the ordinary northerner will not vote for a president from the South and repeating that they will not like to vote Igbo or Yoruba. Who are you trying to trick?

Atiku should be urged to get out of the presidential contest, focus on himself, and get rid of the outdated theories that he and his allies have been using to instil hatred and division among his younger followers. The LP leader went on to say that this is the only realistic way to bring people together.