Igbo leaders shun Atiku's turbaning as Ekweremadu and governors stay away from Yola

IGBO leaders and governors from the five states that make up Nigeria's southeastern geo-political zone shunned the recent birthday celebrations and turbaning of former vice president and presidential candidate Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Yola.

Over the weekend, Alhaji Abubakar celebrated his 72nd birthday and was turbaned as the Waziri Adamawa, making him the traditional prime minister. Among the high profile guests who attended the lavish event in Yola were former presidents Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Goodkluck Jonathan, as well as senate president Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives speaker Yakubu Dogara and several state governors.

Given that Alhaji Abubakar is the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, most of the party's leaders were there, led by its chairman Prince Uche Secondus. Governors Seriake Dickson and Udom Emmanuel of Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom State were also present but very few Igbo leaders attended the event, amid speculation that they are still smarting from the way the PDP selected its vice presidential candidate.

Following his nomination, Alhaji Abubakar picked former Anambra State governor Peter obi as his running mate but several southeastern governors and leaders were unhappy with the choice. Several of them nursed ambitions of their own, while some said they were displease with the fact that they wer4e not consulted before the decision was taken.

Deputy senate president, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, all three PDP governors from the southeast and other senior Igbo leaders in the party did not attend. Apparently, the only notable southeast leader who attended was Chief Emeka Ihedioha, who served as deputy speaker of the House of Representatives after a stint as an aide to Alhaji Abubakar when he was vice-president.

With his turbaning, Alhaji Abubakar is now the Wazirin Adamawa, an office only second to the Lamido, the traditional ruler of the Yola emirate. Among other dignitaries present at the ceremony were former vice president Namadi Sambo, governors Ibrahim  Dankwambo, Darius Ishaku, and Abdulfatah Ahmed of Gombe, Taraba and Kwara states respectively.

Also present were PDP board of trustees chairman Senator Walid Jibrin, two-time governor of Kano State Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso, former chief of army staff  General Kenneth Minimah, former foreign minister Chief Tom Ikimi, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce and the former governors of Niger and Adamawa states Babangida Aliyu and Boni  Haruna.

Some of the governors attributed their absence to previous commitments, with Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State saying he has scheduled appointments to attend to. Enyinnaya Apollos, Governor Ikpeazu's chief press secretary, said that his boss fully supports Alhaji Abubakar and was unavoidably absent due to circumstance beyond his control.

He added: “We are working with him and our governor was at his event last week. He could not come for this one because he has two engagements today, and in fact, I am talking to you from a ceremony.” .

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State and chairman of South East Governors Forum, denied that his absence was a boycott. He added that he was in Lagos attending an Ndigbo Lagos Foundation function.

Pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, urged the southeast governors to gauge the mood of their people before embarking on any political game. Afenifere publicity secretary Yinka Odumakin, said: “When the candidate of their party went to Enugu State, they were not there.

"A week after they went to the villa to ask the president to do for them in three months what he could not do for them in three and half years. Now, they had an event in Yola and they were not all there, so my advice to those governors is for them to gauge the mood of their people because there are some of them seeking re-election for a second term."

Alhaji Abubakar and other PDP leaders are expected to hold several meeting with Igbo leaders later this week to resolve the matter. He is expected to embark on a tour of the geo-political zone over the next few days along with Governor Obi.