Former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar, has congratulated Senator Azubuike Mbata on his election as the President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex socio-cultural organisation.
Atiku also felicitated with other members of the new executive expected to pilot the affairs of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
In a statement signed by his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, the former Vice President further commended the peaceful and credible conduct of the election held in Enugu State on Friday.
He acknowledges the exemplary leadership of the South-East Governors’ Forum in ensuring a free and fair election, coupled with a smooth transition, adding that there are lessons to be learnt from the alliance forged by participants despite their political diversity.
He reechoes the words of Ohanaeze Ndigbo that Mbata’s victory “marks a significant moment for the organization” and signals “a new era of progress, unity, and development.”
Atiku noted that “the Mbata-led executive are no strangers to the divisions that has plagued our nation”, and charged them to not only work assiduously at uniting Ndigbo around shared values, but also work in tandem with other similar socio-cultural organisations in enthroning a new regime of unity.
He underscored the imperative of the promotion of tolerance and inter communal relations to engender peace, a requisite for stability and development.
Atiku said the promotion of unity and peace is inevitable in the fostering of a united front to combat the sorry state of our socio-economic conditions and improve the well-being of Nigerians.
According to Atiku, Mbata’s experience as a lawmaker and administrator, together with the collective exposures of the new executive, put them in good stead to deliver on their mandate.
He wished Mbata and his team a successful tenure to the benefit of Ndigbo in particular and Nigeria in general.