A group rooting for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Zikist-Buharists-Movement (ZBM), has applauded Ohanaeze Ndigbo for refuting the reported endorsement of the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Recall that the Ohanaeze Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Mr Chuks Ibegbu, had disclosed at a media briefing in Enugu last week to mark the second anniversary of its current executive, that, “it is erroneous to say that we endorsed Atiku.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo did not endorse anybody. That meeting at Nike Lake Resort was organised by friends of Atiku. However, due to our peculiar circumstance in the country, we will identify with candidates that will restructure Nigeria if voted into power.”

Reacting in a statement on Sunday, ZMB commended the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation for refuting the news that the organisation endorsed Atiku Abubakar, the PDP candidate in the 2019 presidential election.

According to the statement signed by its acting Zonal Secretary, Barrister Godwin Onwusi, ZBM said its commendation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership is predicated on the truism that it is not politically correct for Ndigbo to endorse Atiku Abubakar, given the prevailing political scenario of rotation of presidency between North and the South, especially where two Fulani Muslim brothers – Buhari and Atiku – are frontrunners in the 2019 presidential election.

“We are enthusiastically gratified that Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership has come to terms with real politik; unlike in 2015, when they placed all Igbo eggs in one basket. For not only that Buhari is fixing critical infrastructure which Atiku and his party the PDP abandoned for 16 years, but has only four years left after the 2019 presidential election.

“Buhari’s remaining four years is cast on constitutional stone, while Atiku’s is eight years. To the best of our knowledge, Atiku had not pledged to anybody that he will run for only four years.

“ZBM took a careful analysis of the two front runners in the 2019 presidential race and solemnly thank the Almighty God that the two principal fault lines are providentially cancelled – ethnicity and religion cards. Thus Almighty God that thrust President Buhari and His Excellency Atiku Abubakar as Fulani Muslims saved the country the fuse which normally is ignited by the fault lines.

“They are also both septuagenarians. It means that the election will be seamless as it will be based on issues and character of the two candidates,” the group stated.

ZBM maintained that Buhari’s victory would be a win-win scenario, among which is the golden opportunity his victory provides in the actualisation of Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023. We regard this index as vital for it shall end the vexatious issue of marginalisation of Ndigbo since after the civil war and create a sense of belonging.

“We are happy with Ohanaeze clarification because it is absolutely necessary following misconceptions on the event of November 14, 2018 where some spin doctors spread the news that Igbo leadership had endorsed the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar for the 2019 presidential election.

“Accordingly, we salute Ohanaeze leadership for putting the collective interest of Ndigbo to produce Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023, above narrow pecuniary interest. We pray that Ohanaeze should remain steadfast and bear in mind that our voting for Buhari will better enhance Ndigbo alliance with the North.

“We need the Northern region where Mr President has a vote-bank of 10-12 million voters, as reflected in the 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 presidential elections. This is the pattern of grand alliance the great Zik of Africa had designed for Ndigbo.

“On the issue of restructuring being bandied by Atiku, ZBM submits, that whereas Atiku’s restructuring mantra is appetising, the truism is that it cannot be done by fiat-executive-order but by consensus via the amendment of the rigid 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“And to be honest the Atiku Plan is neither elaborate nor emphatic on restructuring as being re-echoed by some of our brothers,” the pro-Buhari group argued.