2003: UIEF urge Nigerians to elect Peter Obi for continual existence of United Nigeria
…tasks INEC to ensure free and fair election
By Uzo Ugwunze
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 the 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 the extraordinary emergency meeting of UIEF, Anambra chapter held at Nimo, Njikoka 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 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 the 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 lacked 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 further Forum 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.
