“We Still Pray to God for an Igbo President” — Nwobodo Speaks on Inclusion as Peter Obi Pays Courtesy Visit

Former governor of the old Anambra State and respected elder statesman, Senator Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo, has reiterated the long-held aspiration of many Nigerians of Igbo extraction to see one of their own emerge as president, declaring that the hope remains alive despite decades of political exclusion. Nwobodo made the remarks during a courtesy visit by former presidential candidate Peter Obi, a visit that has since stirred national debate about inclusion, equity, and the future of Nigerian politics ahead of the 2027 general election.

Speaking in an atmosphere that blended reflection, prayer, and cultural reverence, Nwobodo described Obi as one of the most respected political figures in contemporary Nigeria, emphasizing that respect, integrity, and discipline remain Obi’s strongest political assets. While he stopped short of an outright political endorsement, the elder statesman made it clear that Obi deserves encouragement and broad-based support as Nigeria continues to search for credible leadership.

According to Nwobodo, the Igbo question in Nigeria’s power structure remains unresolved more than five decades after the end of the civil war. He wondered aloud whether Igbos are fully accepted as equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project, noting that no Igbo person has occupied the office of president since Nigeria’s independence.

“I have always said that we want to know our position in Nigeria,” Nwobodo said. “Are we strangers in our own country? We still pray to God that an Igbo man will one day be president of Nigeria.”

He lamented what he described as a historical imbalance, stressing that the Igbo were instrumental in the formation of Nigeria as a modern state. Recalling the contributions of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Nigeria’s first president and one of the country’s foremost nationalists, Nwobodo argued that the ideals for which the founding fathers fought have not been fully realised.

“We are one of the peoples that formed this country called Nigeria,” he said. “Zik of Africa was there at the beginning, and I believe he would be unhappy that what he struggled for — unity, fairness, and shared progress — has not yet been achieved.”

The elder statesman also described Obi’s visit as an expression of Igbo cultural values, particularly respect for elders and institutions. He noted that beyond politics, such gestures reflect a deep-rooted tradition of consultation and reverence for experience.

“I am no longer just Jim Nwobodo the politician,” he remarked. “I am now an elder statesman. That is why they came to see me.”

In response, Peter Obi, who recently aligned with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after leaving the Labour Party, clarified that the visit was not a political strategy meeting but a New Year courtesy call. Obi said he came to felicitate with Nwobodo and seek prayers from a leader whose role in Nigeria’s political history remains significant.

“We came to wish him well and to seek his prayers,” Obi said. “We will return at another time to discuss politics and the way forward.”

Obi expressed gratitude for the warm reception and prayers offered, emphasizing that moral guidance and national unity remain essential as Nigeria navigates economic hardship, insecurity, and political distrust.

Earlier, Senator Ben Obi, who led the delegation, explained that the visit had been agreed upon during an earlier interaction with Nwobodo on December 26. He said the delegation deliberately avoided political discussions, out of respect for the elder statesman.

“We did not come to discuss politics today,” he said. “We came to greet our leader and father and to wish him well.”

Ben Obi added that the delegation plans to return at a later date to formally brief Nwobodo on the Nike Lake Declaration, a document that confirmed Peter Obi’s move to the ADC and outlined his broader political intentions ahead of 2027.

The delegation included prominent political figures such as former Ebonyi State Governor Sam Egwu, former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo, and Senator Gilbert Nnaji, among others.

While the visit was framed as symbolic and cultural, it has reignited intense national conversations about zoning, equity, competence, and national unity. Supporters view the renewed call for an Igbo presidency as a matter of justice and inclusion, while critics argue that leadership should transcend ethnicity and focus solely on governance outcomes.

As Nigeria edges closer to another election cycle, Nwobodo’s remarks underscore a lingering national question: how to balance competence, inclusion, and unity in a country still grappling with the unfinished business of nation-building. Whether Peter Obi ultimately becomes the vessel for that aspiration remains uncertain, but the conversation he inspires continues to shape Nigeria’s political landscape.