The Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-cultural group has made an appeal to the PDP’s Atiku Abubakar and the Labour Party’s Peter Obi, who are running for president in 2023, as Nigerians commemorate Democracy Day.
Ohanaeze urged Atiku and Obi to drop their cases before the tribunal and instead back President Bola Tinubu.
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, advised Atiku and Obi to support Tinubu with their suggestions.
Both former candidates for president, according to Isiguzoro, should back Tinubu in the name of nationalism and patriotism.
Speaking with newsmen, Isiguzoro said: “The money that Atiku and Peter Obi are using to pursue their cases at the tribunal, we beg the two Nigerian patriots to support Tinubu because the war has ended.
“They should bring ideas to ensure that Nigerians don’t experience severe hardship.
“This is our democracy message to Atiku, Peter Obi, and Nigerians that though they have the constitutional rights to challenge Tinubu at the tribunal up to the Supreme Court, they should withdraw their cases from the tribunal in the spirit of nationalism and patriotism.
“We know it’s a decision that will be hard for them, their lawyers and supporters will not allow them; but in the spirit of patriotism and one Nigeria they should allow, support this progressive president with the ideas that will move the country from consumption to production.”
Isiguzoro also urged Tinubu to ensure that his appointments reflected federal character.
He charged the president to consider the Igbos when giving out key appointments.
He added: “In as much as we applaud him, Tinubu should look at the situation of not giving exceptional appointments that will promote ethnicity, religion, or nepotism.
“His appointment must reflect the principle of federal character and ensure that the Southeast get strong ministries that will transform the region economically and structurally.”
He charged the president to consider releasing Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
“What we are yearning for is that Tinubu should listen to the appeal of Enugu State governor and release Nnamdi Kanu and end the Monday sit-at-home,” he added.