Politics
Atiku: “Is Peter Obi Not One Of Us?” — Obaze Attacks Southeast Govs, Leaders
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Anambra governorship candidate in 2017, Oseloka Obaze, on Saturday warned South-East governors and other stakeholders against working against Peter Obi and the party in 2019.
The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, had on Friday, selected the former Anambra state governor as his running mate.
But after an emergency meeting yesterday, the South-east leaders lamented that Atiku did not consult them before making the announcement.
Their position has generated criticisms with many holding the view that the announcement deserved commendation.
At the meeting, Obaze went down memory lane, recalling that it was the PDP that invited Obi to join the party in 2014.
He also warned Igbos against opposing one of theirs based on the mere claim that they were not earlier informed.
“Would we rather the VP slot go elsewhere and wait another 35 years? Outsiders have accepted one of our sons, but we are the ones that seek to tag him “an outcast”, Obaze fumed.
His full speech at the event below:
“At the Emergency Meeting of PDP South-East Zone, held at 3p.m. On 13/10/18.
At the Enugu Zonal Office, 16 Iyienu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu.
Mr. Vice-Chairman, we have been summoned here to deliberate on a very important issue. Although, my understanding is that we are gathered to articulate the way forward for Ndiigbo, I suspect that as always, there are some of us here, who will display their skills of pulling their relatives and friends down.
What I’m about to say comes from the heart and from my personal experience. In 2017, I ran and lost a governorship election, not because I was a bad or unqualified PDP candidate, but because some within my PDP family in Anambra and beyond worked against me. Today, our state and our party are paying the price, even as I have forgiven those who worked against my candidacy.
On today’s agenda, I will resort to a historical narrative. On 6th October 2014, a PDP delegation led by the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekwerumadu and Chief Olisa Metuh, the then Publicity Secretary, who represented the National Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Adamu Muazu visited Peter Obi at his residence at 22 Niger Drive, Onitsha to ask him to join our great party, PDP.
In the words of Chief Metuh, the visit was as a “result of the resolution by the entire South-East to pay him a visit and persuade him to join the PDP for more meaningful contribution to national affairs.” In his response, Mr Peter Obi, told the PDP party bigwigs that, “I am humbled by the visit.”
Furthermore, he said, “I thank you for your continued belief and commitment to the welfare of our people and the progress of our country. I have in the past worked closely with all of you and you know my belief about our zone working together. I assure you that we will continue to work even closer as a team in the interest of our people. Regarding your visit of today let me assure you that I heard your kind and passionate requests and that your journey would not be in vain but in the best interest of our people.” Thereafter Peter Obi joined PDP.
What Changed? Is Peter Obi not one of us? In our language, “even a mad man has relatives”; whom you may only identify when the mad man is being beaten in public and they come to his defense. Similarly, in American politics, there is an instructive saying; “he is a son-of-a-gun, but he is our own son-of-a-gun.” I have not been in partisan politics long, but I am a political scientist by training. And I do research and write, so let me share with you some basic historical realities. We are talking of Zonal consultation on the vice presidential ticket. When did it start? Or is this meant to be a first?
In 1979, Shehu Shagari did not consult south-east NPN before choosing Alex Ekwueme as his running mate. Indeed, Ekwueme who was then resident in London had been introduced to Shehu Shagari by the late Sir Joe Nwankwu. In 1999, Olusegun Obasanjo did not consult the Northeast PDP leaders before he selected Atiku Abubakar. Indeed, Atiku having won the gubernatorial election in his state was driving to Adamawa on the fateful day when he got a call to return to Abuja to meet Obasanjo and become his running mate.
In 2007, Umaru YarAdua did not consult the south-south PDP leadership before picking Goodluck Jonathan. Rather,after Peter Odili was blocked as presidential candidate, it was James Ibori that YarAdua wanted as his running mate. It was the trio of Ahmadu Ali, Olusegun Obasanjo and Tony Anenih who decided, without any consultations with the region on Jonathan in order to block some PDP governors who were scheming to nominate another person after the rejection of Peter Odili as presidential candidate.
In these three instances, I mentioned, the respective regions embraced rather than repudiate or reject their sons. Will the turn of southeast be different? Quo Vadis Ndiigbo? Are we to understand that after we have waited for thirty-five years to get a VP slot on a PDP ticket that is a winning combination, we are about to waste it on account of our not being consultedzonally?
Would we rather the VP slot go elsewhere and wait another 35 years? How do we explain our malign attitude and that outsiders have accepted one of our sons, but we are the ones that seek to tag him “an outcast” and therefore unacceptable to the nation? What is it we seek at the bottom of the pot but fish?
Mr. Vice-Chairman, the Biafran war ended 48 years ago and the Igbo nation is yet to recover fully. Now a historical opportunity beckons; an opportunity to actualize the mainstreaming of the Igbo Nation, and we are bickering as to which of our sons will lead the charge. Our disposition, I dare say is myopic and defeatist.
I have heard corridor talks about passing a resolution to repudiate the selection of Peter Obi as Atiku’s running mate. I hope that those who champion such causes will also have the courage to sign their name to the resolution, so that in the fullness of time our posterity will appreciate our folly.
Mr. Vice-Chairman, the two distinct vagaries of history is that “only victors write history” and that “historians claim to be able to recover the past.” So let me end on a historical note. If we lose the present opportunity to produce the VP due to the whims of a few among us, Ndiigbo will never recover the past. And history will be unkind to us all, myself included. Discretion and circumspection is the word! Let those who have tongues count their teeth correctly. Thanks.”
Anonymous
October 15, 2018 at 7:15 am
Anonymous
October 15, 2018 at 7:15 am
Anonymous
October 15, 2018 at 7:15 am
Anonymous
October 15, 2018 at 7:15 am
Anonymous
October 15, 2018 at 7:08 am
Don’t mind them… South east will disown all of them for one person VP Peter Obi. When a lot of things where going wrong in the southeast they did didn’t convene to put out a strong message. Shame on you all.
Anonymous
October 15, 2018 at 5:31 am
Don’t mind those sarcastic leaders…. We the masses are solidly behind obi.
Dr. Peter Ejirika,CPA
October 15, 2018 at 5:33 am
The Eastern Governors have played their masterpiece which is jealousy of Peter Obi’s Appointment as a superficial running mate of an illiterate presidential aspirant of the the devil’s rectangle known as Nigeria.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 9:18 pm
One of us as? Will it be a crime for Peter Obi to have the ticket and Atiku his running mate?
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 8:04 pm
Abeg tell these shameless Governors. That’s why nobody takes us serious in politics. For once can we be united?
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 6:18 pm
Ask them
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 4:46 pm
God blessed you man
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 4:27 pm
Who are the people you people are talking about? Most of you just talk without reasoning probably because of your hatred of the Igbos! Umahi is a known Buhari loyalist, Okorocha is APC, Obiano is APGA you now have Abia and Enugu Governors as PDP Governors on the face. If some of you remember you’ll recollect that even Enugu Governor was rumoured to be tilting towards APC when Buhari told them he’ll work for Igbo presidency if returned. Now you can see and reason why they are behaving like they’re doing.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 5:20 pm
you have hit the nail right…ride on and tell the public about the hidden agenda of the s/east governors.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 4:20 pm
Na USA e come from
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 4:02 pm
As them oooo
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 2:38 pm
PDP shd be careful of apc members in mess
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 2:32 pm
He is from Singapore
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 2:09 pm
Dnt mind the old fools parading themselves as southeadt elders
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 1:11 pm
Just a Vc Slot There nodding there head together is that how there want to produce a President
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:54 pm
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:36 pm
I tire oo. Igbo never love them self’s.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:27 pm
They are just being jealous of his good fortune #VISSIONLESS LEADERS#.
Well,I am happy that today, most easterners knows what they want & would go for it.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:17 pm
David Umahi is not an Igbo leader
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:05 pm
Don’t mind the selfish things. None of them can beat Peter Obi ,using any positive parameters to evaluate. Is it credibility, integrity, academic suitability ,performance as state executive or closeness to the populace? He outshines them in all. Any attempt from them to sabotage this excellent pairing, will mean political suicide for this bunch.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:03 pm
Ask them
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:56 am
The five confused governors of southeast are only JEALOUS of Peter Obi. Or else what could be their problems, if not for wicked and selfish reasons. Would they have wanted Atiku to pick from another tribe?. Well that shouldn’t bother us, as they are entirely on their own. After all five of them has only five votes. S/East will massively support and vote for Atiku/Obi. come 2019.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:13 am
Let me remind All ..that Atiku hasn’t won the election yet, So.pls take it easy, and don’t fight yet
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:13 am
low thinking and blindmen agitation of the Eastern Governors and IPOB wouldn’t take us anywhere , life is stage by stage, with our man inside, is much easier to get all you want than standing out and be shouting biafra biafra plus “we were never consulted blarring”, without any actulated visions for the way forward and the youths being massacred on daily basis for the same stupidity, this is uncalled for, have we not think deeply on why we are not included in the security chief structure of the country and nobody discuss about us except on how to kill us because we are not involved, nobody survive isolation alone and make it great, this is our opportunity to be involved and let the world hear us better, nobody gets his rights and respects through continue protest but with diplomacy and understanding in projecting our needs and respects for others is the key , in this journey ,we are not alone, what about others, what are their own say, you want biafra yes but me want restructuring, now our collective opinion should all count, in both ways which one is more achievable at this material time, the agitation gave room for restructuring, PDP and it’s candidate have promised us restructuring and even gave us a VP slot so that we can be fully involved in participating in the new restructuring agenda , this is more a time for sober reflection, draw from South Africa experience and their birth of new nation pioneered by Nelson Mandela ,who started from separate state agitation to multi -racial nation of equal right and opportunities, we need to go back to the drawing board and understand what we actually need and how to make it work for all of us in the new Nigeria contest which Peter obi represent ,we all are victims, both the north, west and east, the downthrone class inflicted with poverty and economic strangulations and absolute deprivation and forceful cohesion etc, bitterness and hatred for others is not the answer, we can only be great by showing others how we can make everyone great and happy by regenerating the economy for the mutual benefit of all through proactive thinking involving job creation, industrialization ,seeing to the discentralization of the sea ports, airports and creation of movable roads in East and other places so that our own people will pickup by starting to creat jobs for themselves in their own local areas through center spread development without migrating to Lagos and Abuja to survive ,lets think home now in another style…. Thank you
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:05 am
They want d one weh go come bow down 4 dem wit money bags b4 dem go approve am.
#UpIPOB
Sorry
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:04 am
The blood of IPOB will never let them have peace, for me and my house hold we are kanulized
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:04 am
I wonder ooooh
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:47 am
Shut up bcos he’s ur Brother
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:29 pm
Emmanuel Alex so what are you saying bro
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 2:32 pm
Chikere Lci Chikere Southeast pdp leaders supposed to be consulted. Dis is southeast slot Not a personal slot
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:41 am
Not ndi igbo pls… mention their names. We know them and they are the evil spirits that needs to be destroyed. Umahi and his cohort.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:41 am
Igbos will never unite because of their internal petty battles for supremacy
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:41 am
Copied..
Igbo nation Vs Peter Obi and Atiku ticket….
For other tribes who are claiming Igbo don’t love themselves yen yen yen yen ka okuku egbe juru aju!
Listen carefully…. I will disagree with you and it’s called by grammarians “Divergent views”. Don’t use this opportunity to show your hatred on Igbo nation by saying they don’t love themselves. They are this and that….. I can understand most of you lack Nigeria political history and that is the only reason l will take my time to explain the action of 1% of us that are against Peter Obi.
Every tribe have these kind of political business men among them ….
* OBJ worked against Awolowo presidency and even MKO.
* The north worked against Atiku choice as VP, they wanted Abubakar Rimi and OBJ refused.
* Jim Nwobodo worked against Ekwueme as VP candidate.
* Ijaw nation worked against GEJ as Musa Yaraduwa VP, Ibori was their poster boy.
* The north worked against Namadi Sambo, there reason was that it will make a Christain. Become a governor. GEJ refuse to listen to them and we all know how the Christain man was murdered.
*Tinibu worked against Tunde Bakere as Buhari running mate, Osibanjo was forced on Buhari by Tinubu. Afenifere was never consulted by Buhari. Tinubu picked Osibanjo alone.
Biko nu, these are our political history. These political business men are in every tribe. Enough of making it sound like Igbo against Igbo!
Igbo nation can never be against their finest. Igbo nation don’t, will never reinforce Failure. Feudalism is never part of Igbo culture, and will never be.
Igbo enwere Eze — means Igbo culture welcomes and honors divergent views. Our culture made it possible for every man to have his opinion respected in any issue, even by his king.
…………….
Mr. Ekweremmadu, Mr.Chidoka, Dr. Umahi and Eselu na Uga Mr. Uba are not Igbo nation mouth piece. They can never be..
Mr. Chidoka is a man in the likes of Fela Durotoye….fine gentleman, with pseudo English presence that have “breath of air”—- he don’t have any political weight among his kinsmen ma ya fo kwa Igbo nation. I heard he did reasonably well as a minister. That is where it ends “Abuja Connection” e don finish. Just like the way he is tagging along Atiku now….go figure.
Mr Ekweremmadu and Chidoka are same. That one cannot even convince Ogbete market women to vote for him fa! Na Abuja connection ogwu kwa! Same like Chidoka. He parade himself as DSP…. If Buhari think that he can influence votes in Igbo land – don’t you think he wouldve been consulted before proscribing IPOB as a terrorist group?. Let Buhari Proscribe any Kwara group as a terrorist group without battling with impeachment. The fear of Saraki is not same with Ekweremmadu! He is just there —- that is it.
Same with Chidoka – the duo can only boast of Abuja connections, but cannot even influence votes from smallest market women in any Igbo nation cities – who know them?.
David Umahi – you know what they say about small men….hia! When you defeat them, they will still stay on ground na agba anika.
Umahi is the only SE governor Buhari tried to use to penetrate SE with his cattle colony…. We remembered how Bishop Chukwuma openly called him evil among us. Ohaneze came after him, and his people chase him back to Aso Rock to dump the colony nonesense in Abuja. He was made to retract that in his campaign before PDP delegates. Umahi is not our mouthpiece piece. He is in the likes of Orji Uzo kalu! Everywhere power goes, their legs will be positioned at that direction.
Eselu na Uga! Mr Uba, he is a failed “Adedibu” pf Igbo land …. He is the man that kidnapped Ngige while he was a sitting Governor. He is the same man that unlawfully removed Peter Obi in the office. These are men Chinua Achebe of blessed memory called evil in his state. Achebe called OBJ to even take them to Abuja with so that Anambra will have peace. Because of his likes in Anambra State and how OBJ allowed them to use FG security apparatus to carry out their yamayama, the great Achebe refuse to accept national honor from OBJ regime.
Anyone calling them Igbo nation mouthpiece is insulting Igbo nation.
Ok, I am from Igbo generation that Ohaneze forced themselves on us…. Why not let them speak first?, if you think Igbo nation are against their finest.
Una carry these efulefu matter for head dey insult Igbo nation anyhow, kam nu ihe biko. A population of over 60 million people scattered all over the world fa!
There is no crack in Igbo nation about Atiku – Peter Obi ticket…
Excerpts that Peter Obi is Viewed as “stingy and uncompromising”…. These his kinsmen that are thieves and against him will not see any fraud called “contract” from Aso Rock, if Peter is there. He will lift the lid for the world to see their foolishness. The thieves know, we the Igbo nation know and Amadioha know!
Igbo nation is behind Peter Obi excerpt the 1% who are thieves.
Thank you
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:38 am
Unu ebidokwa ozo
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:32 am
Shame on them
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:30 am
Pls help us ask them
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:26 am
Those criminals are afraid of Mr Obi victory come 2019.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:50 am
Yes dey are
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:26 am
Good question sir.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:24 pm
I want Biafra. No election in Biafraland come 2019. Thank u
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:25 am
Ndi Igbo? I truly don’t know what they want! Is it VP? Is it President? Is it Restructuring? Or is it Biafra? Amongst all these ridiculous and laughable scenario, one man got it right: #NnamdiKanu!!!
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:06 am
Oguzie Jude Ama no so nwanne, for me I have been kanulized
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 11:11 am
Ugochukwu Aninweze correct Nwanne.
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 12:25 pm
I want Biafra. No election in Biafraland
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:20 am
Ask them
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:18 am
Igbos are happy with the choice of Peter Obi.. Some of our politician might not be happy bcoz of their selfishness and not for the wellbeing of Igbos.. We know them and know how selfish they are but Peter Obi and Atiku will emerge victorious in 2019 election bcoz all the masses in igboland are happy.. Some of our selfish politicians are angry bcoz Peter Obi will not share Nigeria wealth with them.. Peter Obi will like to work for Nigeria for benefit of all Nigerians .. And we will support him.. They prefer Soludo bcoz he will share money with them.. Peter Obi is prayer answered
Anonymous
October 14, 2018 at 10:15 am
Fake news