The apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, says presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, is free to campaign and solicit for votes in the South-East.
A group, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, had recently warned promoters of the Tinubu Presidency to steer clear of Igboland.
But the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, in a statement on Friday, warned COSEYL against creating unnecessary political tension in the zone.
OYC National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, who signed the statement said it was unjustifiable for any person to ban Tinubu or any other politician from soliciting for votes in the South-East.
Okwu said the Ohanaeze would not tolerate any form of divisive politics, which he described as “the major factor that has kept Nigeria down for such a very long time.”
The OYC maintained that “every Nigerian reserves the right to campaign for candidates of their choice, by marketing such a person convincingly to the electorate.
“Politics of bitterness and acrimony will not take Nigeria anywhere, especially as the country is presently operating at its lowest ebb. There is no doubt that the country has never been this divided and this is why campaigns should be on issues and not ethnicity.
“Having said this, we make bold to say that Tinubu’s promoters are free to campaign for him anywhere in Igboland.
“Similarly, other presidential candidates should also have a smooth sail in taking their campaign to every part of the country.
“Ndigbo remain a very accommodating tribe in Nigeria, known for their hospitality and we are never going to lose that status in spite of provocations.
“All we demand from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is a transparent process through which Nigerians would freely make their choice.
“We advise all interest groups in the South-East, under whatever guise, to exercise restraint and not take actions that would lead to regrets in the future.”
