The youth wing of apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), has cautioned former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to drop his presidential ambition in the interest of the Nigerian nation.

The group frowned at what it described as “the undue desperation of Atiku Abubakar to pick the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic party PDP,” saying that such move is a threst to the unity of the country.

The National President of the group, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, who spoke to newsmen today, March 21 in Owerri, the Imo State capital, emphasized that Atiku’s desperation would instigate Nigeria’s disintegration.

Comrade Igboayaka, who quoted Atiku to have said that, “PDP can’t afford to lose 2023 presidency”, stressed that the former Vice-president ought to know that “if PDP dare give him ticket in 2023 against South-East aspirants, the party will not just lose the election, but it will be an evidential call for total disintegration of Nigeria.

“Atiku Abubakar should go to the history line of PDP formation from G34 led by Dr Alex Ekwueme before it became a political party, to ascertain that South-East has paid the ultimate sacrifice in PDP more than any other zone in Nigeria.”

He emphasized that South-eastern people had contributed in formation, building, as well as sustaining PDP as the biggest party in Africa, saying: “Atiku Abubakar’s call to contest in PDP is a call to interrupt the unity and peace in Nigeria and such move will lead to national political disaster, anarchy and tribal crises that will sink Nigeria.

“If PDP denies a South-easterner presidential ticket, the only thing over 50 million Igbo youths must ensure is to keep Nigeria one by massively voting APC presidential candidate from South-East, and no PDP office/flag from ward level to state level will stand erect in South-East. We’ll fight PDP like Yakubu Gowon did to keep Nigeria one.

“PDP must avoid using Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal and other selfish presidential aspirants that are not from South-East to disintegrate or cause Nigeria her national unity,” Igboayaka maintained.

“It’s derogatory that Atiku Abubakar boasted how he used Ben Obi and Peter Obi as running mates, Atiku Abubakar should know that if any Nigerian desires to see Nigeria as the ‘Giant of Africa’ as proposed by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe (Zik of Africa), then it’s high time he dropped his presidential ambition and support a credible and competent presidential aspirant from South-East to build the Nigeria of Zik vision.

“Atiku Abubakar must awaken his human consciousness and realise that among the six geo-political zones in Nigeria, South-East gave him the overwhelming highest votes, which led the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to nick-name South-eastern people 5%. Therefore, it is historical that Atiku Abubakar and PDP family is owing the South-eastern people a reciprocation gratitude in 2023 presidential election.”