The pan-Igbo socio political pressure organisation, the South Eas Revival Group (SERG) has commended the leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and the entire membership of the pan-Yoruba socio-political group for reiterating their continued support for the Labour Part presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The president and national coordinator of the SERG, Chief Willy Ezugwu, in a statement issued in Abuja noted that “the unequivocal support coming from credible South West political bloc, which the Afenifere represents, is a support for equity and justice, which will boost Nigeria’s national unity.”
The South East group maintained that the renewed declaration of support for the Peter Obi presidential bid, alongside his running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, by the Afenifere has demonstrated that there are still individuals and groups around who love the country and would sacrifice anything to keep Nigeria united and prosperous.
It said the support by Afenifere is in line with the advocacy sustained by the former executive governor of Kaduna State and elder statesman, Alhaji Balarabe Musa ahead of the 2023 general elections before his death.
It noted that Alhaji Balarabe Musa had urged Nigerians to give the South East the chance to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023 to give the region a sense of belonging, adding that the group totally agrees with Pa Adebanjo that by the Afenifere’s support, the group is contributing to shaping Nigeria into a truly Federal Republic where no person or ethnic nationality would be sidelined or oppressed.
The group noted the fact that Afenifere as well as the Southern and
Middle Belt Leaders Forum have been consistent in their advocacy for
restructuring and, by extension, the need for a Nigerian president of
South East extraction as part of efforts towards national integration.
The group’s statement reads in part, “With this reiterated endorsement
from the Afenifere against all odds, it should now sink into the minds
of all Nigerians, especially South East political leaders, that the
Peter Obi presidential bid is devoid of ethnic colouration and must be
embraced by all and sundry in Igboland. We therefore call on all Igbo
sons and daughters to join the support train, not because Peter Obi is
an Igbo but because he has proven to be competent with reasonable
understanding of Nigeria’s problems and how they can be fixed.
“Nigeria is greatly troubled on every sector, with complications from
security challenges as evident in all parts of the country and we need
urgent rescue from total collapse.
“Peter Obi has a track record of integrity, competence, proven
performance and has expressed his readiness to work with Nigerians of
all tribes and religion to make the country work again by focusing on
production, which will boost the country’s economy and return the
country to the path of recovery and prosperity.”
