Why Igbos Did Not Vote For Tinubu In 2023 Election – Ohanaeze PG, Iwuanyanwu

…Says ‘We’ll Move Against Anyone Fighting Tinubu Unjustly’

THE President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu has stated that the Igbos in the South-East geopolitical zone of the country did not vote for former governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because they were told that it was their turn to produce the next President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

This is even as the prominent Igbo leader said the group has vowed to fight those fighting President Tinubu.

Chief Iwuanyanwu spoke during a courtesy visit to the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, in his palace on Saturday.

According to him, Igbos were told not to vote for Tinubu in 2023 because it was “our turn.”  He added; “Bola was very good to us when he was governor. He treated Ndigbo very well. During the time of the governorship, Igbo in Lagos came to me, and I told them to support Governor Sanwo Olu.

“But the President of Nigeria today is Bola Tinubu. Ohanaeze has pledged our loyalty to support our brother.

“What we want from Tinubu is justice, fairness, and equity. We don’t want to take another person’s state; whatever is our right should be given to us.

“We are going to support him, we are going to be loyal to him, and anybody who fights him unjustly, we are going to join him to fight such a person, but all we want is for him to give us our rights.”

Recall that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a former Governor of Lagos State and National Leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC defeated other strong contenders including Peter Obi of the Labour Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP to clinch the apex political seat in the country. He took over from Muhammadu Buhari on the 29th of May, 2023. His administration so far has attracted commendations and condemnations from different circles.

Chief Iwuanyanwu emphasized that there was no rift between the Yoruba and Igbo. 

“There’s no rift. Igbo and Yoruba have no problem at all. Our parents in Igboland always tell us that wherever we go, we should obey the laws of people. I’m also advising the younger generation to cultivate the habit of obeying the laws of the land, as it is too late to talk about separation between Ndigbo and Yoruba. We are now inseparable.”

Responding, Oba Akiolu urged Igbo in Lagos to play by the rules.“We know Igbos are very hard workers, but you have to respect the owners of the land. We have identified the problem in Nigeria, and what we want is a solution.

“I am appealing to you in the name of God. The governor cannot deliberately destroy your property. Just play according to the rules of the game. 

“To the Igbo, anybody who wishes the best for Lagos is a Lagosian. I assure Ndigbo that nobody will maliciously mistreat you. All of you should cooperate with the Lagos government to move the state forward.” 

Eighteen-Eleven Media