By Rose Oranye
A sharp disagreement on whether Peter Obi has been endorsed as the Igbo presidential project dominated the Igbo Nation and Customs (INC) Political Summit in Awka, on Thursday, as Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, publicly faulted Senator Victor Umeh’s claim.
The summit, organised by Igbo Nation and Customs (INC), a vanguard grassroots membership organisation of the Igbo race, held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral CWO Hall, Awka, had as its topic, “Unity and Moral Values in the Political Future of Ndigbo,” with Dr. Mefor as Special Guest of Honour.
Senator Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, had in his address insisted that Ndigbo have already endorsed Peter Obi as their presidential candidate for the forthcoming election, arguing that it is not in the spirit of ‘Onye aghala nwanne ya’ for Ndigbo to go against their brother.
Mefor, who acknowledged Umeh as one of the founding members of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), disagreed, pointing out that the recognised Igbo leadership structures were not consulted and no endorsement was sought from Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Igbo Council of Traditional Rulers, and the South-East Governors’ Forum.
He also told the summit that Peter Obi, the first APGA-elected governor of Anambra, started the endorsement of working with governments at the centre, a path later followed by Willie Obiano and now sustained by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
“Peter Obi made a mistake. In the political process, parties work together through mergers or alliances. Obi didn’t approach APGA for any of these. If he had, maybe we would have supported his presidential ambition and he would leave other positions, but he is contesting everything from House of Assembly to President. APGA has to fight to survive as NDC’s success in Anambra means APGA’s death as happened in Imo. This is politics, and every party is contesting to win. NDC should strive to win just as APGA is working to win and we will win. The masses/voters will decide by voting according to their consciences,” Mefor said.
Earlier, Mefor spoke on value reformation, insisting that hard work, wisdom, fear of God and other values Anambra was known for are what Governor Soludo is working to bring back through the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, and urged INC to partner with the ministry in that regard.
