The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC), has urged young people against igniting political tension in the zone, saying that the presidential candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, and others are free to canvass for votes in the South-East.
OYC, in a declaration by its National President, Okwu Nnabuike, said it was unjustifiable for any person to ban Tinubu or any other person from soliciting votes in the region.
Recall that a group, Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, had asked promoters of the Tinubu candidacy to keep off the zone in their campaign.
Okwu said Ohanaeze would not sit and allow any form of divisive politics, which he described as the major factor that has kept Nigeria down for such a very long time.
The Ohanaeze youths maintained that every Nigerian reserved the right to campaign for candidates of their choice, by marketing such a person convincingly to the electorate.
He said: “Politics of bitterness and acrimony will not take Nigeria anywhere, especially as the country is presently operating at its lowest flow. 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 Ìgbò land. Other presidential candidates should also have a smooth sail in taking their campaign to every part of the country.”
He claimed that Ndìgbò remains a very accommodating tribe in Nigeria known for their hospitality, which the region would never be in rush to lose despite any provocation.
“All we demand from the Independent National Electoral Commission 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,” he added.