Ohaneze Ndigbo led by Nnia Nwodo just failed the political intelligence test by endorsing Atiku on the day that President Buhari campaigned in Enugu and Anambra States.

This is endorsement is of no effect for these reasons:

1. Majority of Igbos were already staunch supporters of Atiku-Obi ticket
2. The Igbos that have refused to support Atiku and Obi will not be persuaded by this misstep by Ohaneze

Ohaneze claimed that the “the nomination of our son Peter Obi as the vice presidential candidate has given Ndigbo an opportunity for inclusivity. Ndigbo must seize the moment”

This line of argument -ethnicity- is at the heart of the lack of political intelligence on display by Ohaneze and will be counterproductive for the following reasons:

1. The Yorubas that are already solidly behind Buhari and Osinbajo will be even more motivated to tighten their grip on the Southwest. Their superior number of registered voters will easily wipe out the votes from the Southeast.
2. The endorsement based on ethnicity will further alienate Atiku-Obi ticket in the Northwest, northeast, and South-south

Ohaneze Ndigbo failed in 2015 to even give candidate Buhari an audience in the run-up to the 2015 elections. So, why should Nnia Nwodo put Igbos through this again?

The bad news for Ohaneze is that unlike in 2015, when the entire Southeast was under lock and key for Jonathan, the equation has completely changed.

1. Anambra State will be very competitive as Gov. Obiano will give Peter a good fight. Obiano was having a ball with Buhari in Onitsha while Ohaneze was plotting to render Mr. President’s visit irrelevant.
2. Imo is definitely not a PDP state notwithstanding Rochas buffoonery
3. Enugu is still a PDP state but that fact that Gov. Ugwuanyi was having a good time with President Buhari at the same time that Ohaneze was hatching the ill-advised endorsement should be worrying to Ohaneze.
4. Ebonyi State will be very competitive with Umahi a very good friend and political ally of Buhari

All the same, I am very disappointed and worried that Nnia Nwodo lacks the political and emotional intelligence that is crucial in steering Igbos on the right path to thriving in a multicultural country that is fluid and dynamic.

@Churchillnnobi