Pan-Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has sent what has been packaged as ‘warning’ to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over his 2023 presidential bid.

The group alleged that there are attempts by the presidential aspirant to plant the seed of discord among Ndigbo and Yorubas

In a release signed by OYC National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, yesterday, the group said the ‘plan’ will not work.

The OYC said it was reacting to the meeting of Tinubu, a chieftain of the APC, with the party caucus of the National Assembly on Wednesday, over his presidential ambition.

The group described the move as an attempt to plant the seed of discord between Ndigbo and Yorubas, “who have contributed heavily to the political and economic development of Nigeria.”

It stated that the political differences between past nationalists and statesmen, Nnamdi Azikiwe and the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, “were corrected in 1999 when a South-East presidential aspirant and candidate, Dr Alex Ekwueme and Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, made a heavy sacrifice on the atonement of ill-political treatment against the Yorubas in 1993 when Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) annulled the election of Chief MKO Abiola”.

“We can’t allow a grandfather like Bola Tinubu to plant the seed of hatred, discord political inequality among the new generation of Ndigbo and Yoruba nation. It’s obvious that Bola Tinubu’s presidential project, if allowed, will cause perpetual discord among the South-East and South-West regions.

Therefore, our peaceful coexistence among the two regions is more vital and everlasting than Bola Tinubu’s political interest,” it added.

According to OYC, “It is illogical and unreasonable to allow a grandfather, after he must have left the earth, what he planted would continue to grow hate, crises and keep hurting Ndigbo and Yorubas.

“Bola Tinubu’s presidential project is a historical error we must avoid, his presidential ambition will bring negative remote effects to the present and future generations of Ndigbo and Yorubas,” the group said.

It added, “Bola Tinubu ought to without delay become a political hero and father, whose name will not be erased from the political history of Nigeria, if he reasonably quits his presidential ambition and supports one presidential aspirant from the South-East in the All Progressives Congress, APC.”

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“The South-West, between 1999 to 2023, served as the president of Nigeria for eight years, and subsequently, vice president for another eight years, making it a total of sixteen years of presidency.

“It is, therefore, morally evil for Bola Tinubu to consider himself qualified to run for the 2023 presidency.

“At this time Senator Bola Tinubu has the opportunity to become a hero or a villain. If he still chooses to run, he is making himself a villain before the present and new generation of Igbo and Yoruba extraction,” OYC added.