By Charles Adingupu
As preparations for the inauguration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu peaks on May 29, three governors have reportedly endorsed plan by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to attend the ceremony.
A statement issued on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, by the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Secretary General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, listed the names of the governors supporting the participation of the apex Igbo socio-cultural body in the inauguration ceremony to include, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, and Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo disclosed that the Governors have “seconded their decision and are actively working with them to actualize it.”
The release declared that: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide is mobilizing massively to attend the inauguration of President-Elect, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday, 29th May, 2023, at Eagle Square, Abuja.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo came to the pragmatic conclusion that boycotting Tinubu’s inauguration was of no strategic benefit to Ndigbo. Rather, it would lead to undue isolation of Ndigbo while giving the impression that Ndigbo was at war with him (Tinubu).
“For the avoidance of doubt, Ohanaeze wishes the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Mr Peter Obi, well in his pursuit to exercise his legal and constitutional rights over the 2023 presidential election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
“However, Ohanaeze Ndigbo urges Ndigbo to remain law-abiding and avoid engaging the Tinubu-led Federal Government in confrontation. Ndigbo is mindful of the future and will never play bad politics of bitterness and malice against President-elect Tinubu.
“Indeed, the era of “nzogbu nzogbu” politics is over, and Ndigbo should learn to approach political issues in Nigeria from a holistic perspective, not disjointed sentiments.
“It will be unwise for Ndigbo to boycott the inauguration of the incoming administration of the Federal Government of Nigeria under Tinubu since it will amount to cutting off our noses to spite our faces.
“World leaders, including former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, have already congratulated Tinubu, and their countries are billed to attend his inauguration,” the statement added.
The Ohanaeze further noted that the three governors are eager to facilitate Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s attendance at the inauguration and have also “resolved to stick out their necks to ensure that Ndigbo is not isolated and left in the cold under Tinubu.”
