In a letter steeped in history and urgency, former Police Service Commission [PSC] Chairman Chief Simon Nsobundu Okeke has issued a direct appeal to members of the African Democratic Congress [ADC]: rally behind Peter Obi’s 2027 presidential bid, and let Nigeria finally lay the ghosts of the civil war to rest.
Calling himself a voice for “all patriotic Nigerian members of ADC,” the Ochendo framed Obi’s candidacy as something the country has never seen.
“Peter Obi may not be getting it right in some areas. Being human, it should be expected. No one is perfect,” Okeke wrote. “Nonetheless, among all the presidential aspirants today, he is the most acceptable nationwide. At no time in the political history of Nigeria before, during and after our Independence till this date has any candidate from any part of Nigeria enjoyed such a universal nationwide acceptance, not even the great charismatic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.”
Then came the hard pivot — to Atiku Abubakar.
“On Atiku Abubakar’s Presidential bids up to 2023, no Northern presidential candidate had ever enjoyed the massive support of the people of South East as he has,” Okeke stated. “It was Atiku’s presidential bid in the 2023 contest that diminished PO’s margin of victory in that election.”
For Okeke, 2027 is payback time. Not in bitterness, but in balance.
“One would expect that 2027 contest will give Alhaji Atiku a good opportunity to reciprocate the same support he has progressively received from the South East by him not only withdrawing from the contest which by convention is for Southern candidates to serve out balance of term of 4 years, but to throw his weight behind Peter Obi.”
The warning was blunt: “Failure to do this will portray him to be opposite of what we thought he is – a true friend of Ndigbo. He needs to show appreciation of our South East support for his several presidential bids.”
But the Ochendo’s appeal stretched beyond Atiku and the ADC. He called on the North and South West to see Obi not as an Igbo project, but as national closure.
“I appeal to our Northern and South Western brothers and friends to see the equity and justice in supporting Peter Obi’s presidential bid since his victory will put the burden of the Nigeria-Biafra war behind us permanently.”
It was not a campaign speech. It was an elder’s ledger — debts, dues, and a chance to settle history.
Chief Okeke, OON, OFR, FNIVS, FRICS, signed off with the same words that have carried Nigeria through fractures and false starts: “Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The question he leaves ADC, Atiku, and the nation is simple: Will 2027 be another contest, or the country’s long-delayed reconciliation?
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