Elder statesman and former Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Simon Okeke has made a special case for Peter Obi to be supported to fly the flag of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2027 presidential election.
In a special message he personally signed on Tuesday, Okeke also made a passionate appeal to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to support Obi’s ambition by withdrawing from the race.
Titled “A passionate appeal from an Elder statesman to all patriotic Nigerian members of African Democratic Congress (ADC)”, Chief Okeke reminded Atiku of the overwhelming support he had received from the South East in all the presidential elections the former VP contested and urged him to reciprocate this in 2027.
He drew the former VP’s attention to the reality that the 2027 presidential election is for the south hence the inevitability of transferring his support to Obi.
Beyond these, Okeke insisted that Obi deserves the support of all ADC stakeholders as according to him, Obi is the most acceptable presidential aspirant.
Below is the unedited copy of of Chief Okeke’s statement:
A PASSIONATE APPEAL FROM AN ELDER STATESMAN TO ALL PATRIOTIC NIGERIAN MEMBERS OF AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC)*
*PETER OBI PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDACY – APPEAL TO ALL PATRIOTIC NIGERIAN MEMBERS OF ADC.*
*Peter Obi* may not be getting it right in some areas. Being human, it should be expected. No one is perfect. Nonetheless, among all the presidential aspirants today, he is the most acceptable nationwide. At no time in the political history of Nigeria before, during and after our Independence till this date has any candidate from any part of Nigeria enjoyed such a universal nationwide acceptance, not even the great charismatic *Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik).*
*The Atiku Question*:
On Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential bids up to 2023, no Northern presidential candidate had ever enjoyed the massive support of the people of South East as he has.
It was Atiku’s presidential bid in the 2023 contest that diminished PO’s margin of victory in that election.
One would expect that 2027 contest will give Alhaji Atiku a good opportunity to reciprocate the same support he has progressively received from the South East by him not only withdrawing from the contest which by convention is for Southern candidates to serve out balance of term of 4 years, but to throw his weight behind Peter Obi. Failure to do this will portray him to be opposite of what we thought he is – a true friend of Ndigbo.
He needs to show appreciation of our South East support for his several presidential bids.
I appeal to our Northern and South Western brothers and friends to see the equity and justice in supporting Peter Obi’s presidential bid since his victory will put the burden of the Nigeria-Biafra war behind us permanently.
Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.
*Chief (Dr.) Simon Nsobundu Okeke, OON, OFR, FNIVS, FRICS,*
(*Ochendo*),
*Former Chairman, Police Service Commission*.
