By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The 2023 Atiku campaign team led by the founder of Africa Independent Television (AIT), High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, on Sunday visited Valentine Ozigbo, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate during last year’s election in Anambra State, to solicit support.

Speaking at the event, Dokpesi said that apart from seeking the support of the former governorship candidate, the visit was also to inform Anambra people that former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, will be contesting the 2023 presidential election.

He described Anambra as a state that is always at the forefront of producing leaders of Nigeria and has also shown commitment to PDP as a party over the years.

Dokpesi said: “We have come to seek and solicit your support for the presidential aspiration of Waziri Atiku Abubakar and to assure you that Atiku Abubakar is in the best position to unify Nigeria and protect the interest of his in-laws (Ndigbo).

“PDP had technically zoned the presidential ticket to the North by electing Atiku as its flag-bearer in 2019.

“Atiku has not yet emerged president since then and Waziri is the right person that could match Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, if he eventually emerges as the presidential candidate of APC.

“If Atiku Abubakar is elected, he would ensure that South East’s interest is highly protected, as exemplified earlier by his choice of His Excellency Peter Obi as his running mate.

Dokpesi noted that “Anambra missed out on having the services of a dogged fighter by failing to elect Valentine Ozigbo during the 2021 gubernatorial election.”

According him, Anambra was the 30th state visited by the team, adding that the concept of rotational presidency was meant to prevent the emergence of “Super Nigerians” by allowing people from every part of the country to produce the President.

While saying that he made a rallying call to Igbos to mobilise massively, to join the PDP, and boost the party’s membership ahead of the 2023 election, Dokpoesi stressed that the forces that worked against the PDP candidate governorship candidate cannot stop his light from shinning.

Responding, Ozigbo said that nobody would doubt Atiku’s capacity to lead, saying that there is a need to note the sensitivity around the clamour for power shift.

He hailed Dokpesi for supporting Anambra state during the last governorship election, saying that the former vice president is eminently qualified to vie for the presidency of Nigeria.

On the issue of zoning and rotational presidency, Ozigbo described it as sensitive, even as he called for a high level of emotional intelligence and balance.

He however urged credible South-Eastern leaders to come together and agree on the direction after considering all factors.

Ozigbo also thanked the Atiku Campaign team for finding him worthy of their visit and expressed admiration for Dr Dokpesi’s commitment, stating that he was encouraged by his consistency for the PDP.

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