By Richard Ogunsile

An Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has asked the 2023 presidential candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) to drop their petitions against President Bola Tinubu, without further hesitation.

Naija News reports that Obi and Atiku are both at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal challenging the declaration of Tinubu as the winner of the February 25th presidential election by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

However, in a statement issued on Monday, June 12, to commemorate the occasion of the 2023 Democracy Day, Ohanaeze urged the duo to withdraw their cases at the tribunal and support Tinubu in the interest of nationalism and patriotism.

The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said Atiku and Obi should support Tinubu with their ideas to ensure that Nigerians do not experience severe hardship.

“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 democratic 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 said, urging Tinubu to ensure that his appointments reflect 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.