Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex socio-cultural group of the South-East people, has called on Dr. Emeka Kalu, the senatorial aspirant for Abia North of Abia State in the 2027 general election to contest for viable political office.
Ohanaeze, who expressed disappointment in the spate of cross carpeting among the prominent South-East elected officeholders, especially in Abuja, exuded confidence in the leadership skills and qualitative representation of Kalu if voted into office.
The group said that it has become evident that approximately 90 per cent of Igbo politicians, particularly those who represent the South-East, had betrayed the trust vested in them by their constituents.
A statement by the Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said that Kalu had displayed enough trust and competence with his consistency on national discourse in the past years.
The statement titled ‘2027: Heed the cries of Your People,’ and made available to journalists at the weekend, called on Kalu to yield to the cries of the South-East people by contesting for political office in the next general election.
The group also commended the humanitarian initiatives championed by the Dr. Emeka Charles Kalu Foundation, saying that the outreach had emerged as a critical lifeline for the beleaguered people of Abia North and the South East in particular.
Isiguzoro said that the outreach had lifted the spirit of many of its beneficiaries at a time the economic woes of Nigeria had nosedived.
The statement added: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphatically underscores the dire reality of rampant poverty and hunger besieging Nigeria, with consequences most acutely felt in the Southeast.
“The pervasive challenges of insecurity, compounded by widespread economic disarray, herald a profound transformation in the political landscape as we approach the 2027 elections.
“It is increasingly clear that a ballot box revolution is imminent—a historical moment where the aggrieved masses, especially the Igbo people, will unambiguously retire from politics those individuals who have demonstrated unproductivity, corruption, and incompetence.”
Isiguzoro decried that some of the elected Southeast officials had chosen to neglect their responsibilities by abandoning their constituencies and seeking refuge in Abuja as insecurity and hunger continue to ravage the electorate they were elected to serve.
He insisted that the abandonment of the ship by the politicians was unacceptable, adding that “the time for accountability has arrived.”
According to him, Kalu exemplified this noble spirit, embodying the essence of the Igbo philosophy encapsulated in the phrase “Onye Ahala Nwanne Ya”—a call to action for community support and solidarity.
He pointed out that Kalu’s unwavering commitment to identifying with his constituents during their most distressing moments, and providing them with support and succour, was a testament to his character.
Isiguzoro, maintained that his efforts had not only alleviated the pangs of poverty in the Southeast, but had also brought joy to the faces of countless citizens throughout Abia North and beyond.
The statement added: “Recent intelligence gathering reveals a burgeoning consensus among the citizenry of Abia North, fervently advocating for Dr. Emeka Charles Kalu as a viable candidate for future political leadership.
“In this context, Ohanaeze Ndigbo earnestly implores him to listen to the heartfelt pleas of his people. It is imperative that he harnesses his moral resolve and steps forward to represent them in the 2027 elections, irrespective of the specific position he may seek within the political framework.”
