Jonathan deserves respect for hosting Tinubu who plotted against him in 2015 – Ohanaeze

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has condemned those criticizing ex-President Goodluck Jonathan for welcoming and hosting the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, and the vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima.

Ohanaeze has said that the former president deserves respect for welcoming and hosting a man who worked against him in 2015.

The body revealed that the gesture of Jonathan should be a lesson to politicians to do away with politics of bitterness and rancor.

The Secretary-General of the body, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has via a statement said all presidential candidates should focus on issues-based campaigns.

According to Isiguzoro: “This is one of the nationalistic gestures that should be considered as a lesson for the political elites, to eschew politics of bitterness and rancor, and interface with everyone irrespective of whether or not there were grievances in the past.

“Ndigbo expected that all the Presidential candidates for the 2023 elections should focus on issued-based campaigns devoid of tantrums and resentment.

“We are aware of what transpired in 2015, and subsequently led to the then ruling party PDP losing to APC championed by Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu; Nigerians will witness unprecedented realignment shortly, especially in the interest of the unity of the country regarding power shifting to southern Nigeria from the North in 2023.

“Goodluck Jonathan should be respected for the role of elder statesmanship exhibited by hosting a man who plotted his exit from power.”

Isiguzoro has also commended Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State for accepting to be Tinubu’s coordinator in the Southeast.

He said: “Ndigbo commended the chairman of southeast Governors, Governor Dave Umahi for accepting to identify with APC Presidential candidate Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu as the APC coordinator for the entire South.”

Isiguzoro further revealed that Ohanaeze would publicize its preferred presidential candidates during the 2022 Igbo Day festival on September 29th, 2022.

“Ndigbo will make a declaration on where Igbos will vote in 2023 on the annual festival of 2022 Igbo Day holding in the ancient city of Aba, in Abia State on September 29th, 2022,” he said.