Ohanaeze Knocks Dokpesi Over Comment On 2023 Presidency

Chairman emeritus of Daar Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, has come under attack for claiming that the South-East cannot win the 2023 presidential election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ezenwoko’s Blog recalls that in a recent interview, Dokpesi had said that the PDP cannot win the 2023 Presidency if its presidential candidate comes from the South East.

According to the PDP Board of Trustees member, only a Northern candidate can win the forthcoming presidential election for the main opposition party.

He added that there is no candidate from the Southeast and the South in general that will be able to win the top seat in the country for the PDP.

Reacting to Dokpesi’s comments, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, asked the PDP chieftain to keep his opinions to himself.

In a statement on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, Ohanaeze expressed disappointment at Dokpesi for canvassing for a Northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

The group accused Dokpesi of being loyal to the North, claiming that “northerners paid Dokpesi’s school fees and his allegiance is to the region.”

Ohanaeze, however, said it was a surprise that Dokpesi supports the north yet canvass for Tinubu because they are childhood friends.

The statement reads: “We sympathise with our southern son, Chief Dokpesi because he started as the personal assistant to Alhaji Bamaga Tukur at the Nigerian Ports Authority.

“Dokpesi also served under Alhaji Umaru Dikko and General Garba Wushishi. Records reveal that Alh. Bamanga Tukur paid his fees from secondary school to postgraduate level. To that extent, he owes allegiance to his benefactors and feels no compunction to profile the entire south as an electoral liability.

“One can easily understand the psychological ambivalence in the Dokpesi persona. On the other hand, there is no reason for the condescension and disdain he handed over to the entire South.

“Dokpesi’s assumptions are unreflective, weird and unworthy. Any person who loves Nigeria should be an advocate of power rotation especially between the north and the south; and those our sons and daughters who lay claim to leadership should not, under any guise, give the impression that the south is a lame-duck, an electoral liability; and therefore must depend on the north to define the political trajectory of Nigeria.

“We urged Dokpesi to allow justice and fairness to guide his dealings and choices, even as the group reminded the business mogul to be mindful of the kind of epitaph that he wishes to be remembered for.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide also commended the 17 Southern Governors for insisting that power should shift to the south in 2023.”