PETER OBI: Can Igbos Stop This Pull-Him-Down Syndrome

I learnt with disenchantment the rancour that seems to be generated within the South-east leadership of the People's Democratic Party, PDP over Mr Peter Obi's nomination as the running mate to Atiku Abubakar. the allusion credited to Gov Dave Umahi, who's the chairman of the South-east Governors Forum that they were not consulted before the choice was made is a loud echo of distraction just so out of the way. For goodness sake why should the reason of not been consulted constitute a ground to bicker? For all I understand about consultation and consulting, it is a simply voluntary thing solely reserved for the consulting body.

It's always been the case that when an aspirant emerges through the herculean task of securing a party's ticket to become its candidate, the honour is done on him to take home the decision and relaxably choose who becomes his running mate, that person he's comfortable to work with.  So we see how it is the prerogative of the flag bearer to nominate a second man; and this has been the case.

However, it doesn't rule out the chance for consultation, which yet if it's to be done, is at the discretion of the man in question. It could happen when he needs some support to make worthy selection, on the likely premises that he doesn't have a hands on pick. By and large, it is at his own will and the choice of Peter Obi by Atiku Abubakar reflects this underlying basis.

Having won the PDP presidential ticket, it was his sole right to go home and decide on who becomes his vice. The man went home, and feeling he knows Mr Obi, (maybe without recourse to advice) finally named him. Nothing has it against this decision. So the cry of been slighted by not been consulted for this unilateral decision is shouting too much and very much unnecessarily.

We recall that before the eventual emergence of Peter Obi as the choice for the VP, there have been clamour as whether it was to be from the South-west or the South-east. Both were good political options to pick from, anyway. But in his discretion, presidential candidate made his choice from the zone. The question that arises is what if the slot for the vice-presidency eventually was not given to the South-east, would this have been the talking point?

The ensuing bickering is an assault to goodwill. It's smack of a people who are not ready for what they've been given, who are not appreciative of the honour done them; and this is indeed so unfortunate. Instead of being appreciative that from the clamour, Atiku looked the side of the South-east and 'considered' them for this position, the so-called South-east PDP leaders are somehow holding umbrage against the man who had considered them in making his decision. It is too shameful.

In the meantime, what does Umahi and co-travellers in the pseudonym of South-east leaders want Atiku do? Obviously, it's their silent statement that Atiku retrieve the choice he made from them and pick from the South-west, instead. Or maybe, they wanted one of them leaders to have been picked, and this misplaced 'consultation bickering' is their huge disappointment?

Maybe doing either of the above would have saved the decider the lashing from the accusations of not having consulted the South-east leaders before picking one of their own as his vice. But whichever is the motive, their stand is just so outwardly SHAMEFUL.