There is intensified campaign by prominent Igbo leaders for Nigerians to allow the South East to produce the country’s next president.
Igbo leaders converged in Owerri, the Imo State capital, to re-echo the growing demand for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone presidential ticket for 2023 elections to the Southeast.
This is coming a few hours after presidential aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the Southeast met in Abuja to display significant solidarity and unity of purpose in the issue of the presidency in 2023. The Igbo leaders said that it is the turn of the Southeast to produce the President of Nigeria and pleaded with other regions to support their aspiration in the spirit of equity and justice.
To ensure that this happens, they called on all political parties in the country to zone the Presidency to the Southeast.
The meeting was a reception in honour of Prof. George Obiozor, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.
However it became an avenue for the Igbo to reiterate their position on the 2023 presidential race as the political parties prepare for their primary elections.
The Igbo leaders warned that any political party that fails to zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast should forget the votes of Ndigbo.
In his speech, Obiozor lamented that the state of the Nigerian economy, which was one of the leading economies in Africa.
He said that the economy has been worsened by many national events including the security challenges which has shaken the confidence of major investors in the economy.
“Nigeria is no longer the destination for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and regrettably, most international companies are divesting and leaving Nigeria in their large number,” Prof Obiozor said.
The former Director General of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) bemoaned in particular the state of affairs in the Southeast.
“The sad and unfortunate consequence is the fact that our Southeast zone is further pushed into the vicious circle of unemployment, poverty and restiveness.”
Obiozor said Ndigbo are known for their industry and hard work and require an enabling environment to excel.
He regretted the absence of equity, justice and fairness in the polity which has robbed Nigeria of that enabling environment.
Obiozor said the 2023 elections remain critical to the continued survival of the country.
“A Southeast Presidency in 2023 will have a healing effect on the conscience of the nation and it is an idea whose time has come. It is politically defensible and morally justifiable in maintaining Nigerian unity.”
Harping on the imperative of getting it right in 2023, Obiozor said: “The future of Ndigbo and other Nigerians rests on how best its fortune in three very crucial planks – security, economy, national politics and governance – is harnessed.
“Our assessment of the security and the economy of our nation inspite of all our efforts is deplorable and requires urgent national attention
“For these and many other reasons, Nigeria is a troubled nation, and in this contest, we see the upcoming Presidential election as critical as never before in Nigeria’s history.”
Obiozor said Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has remained very steadfast in its position that a nation without the consciousness and deep commitment to the enthronement of equity, justice and fairness undermines the very foundation on which the ethos of good governance are premised.
“These are even more imperative and compelling necessity in diverse and multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-religious countries like Nigeria.
“Ndigbo firmly believes that the diversity of Nigeria has been grossly mismanaged and the upcoming 2023 Presidential election provides an excellent opportunity to redress any sense of exclusion or marginallisation felt by the people of Southeast zone over the years.
“It is for this reason that I call on all political parties in the country to zone the Presidency to the Southeast.”
Obiozor who appreciated the Southern and Middle Belt leadership forum for their steadfastness and unshaken support for zoning and rotation of the Presidency to the Southeast come 2023 said the country’s diversity should be turned to strength.
He insisted that “this can only come from an inclusive arrangement in which all groups have a sense of belonging, feel welcome and respected for their invaluable contributions to the nation’s development.”
Other Igbo leaders who spoke, including Lady Victoria Akanwa, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, among others, echoed the same sentiment.
Lady Akanwa, former commissioner in the old Imo State during the Second Republic, said Ndigbo should support Ohanaeze to deliver on the promise of Nigerian President of Southeast extraction in 2023.
“Ndigbo have been sponsoring others to the highest office in the land. Now is the time for them to bring out their money to support one of their own. We must all support Ohanaeze. It is very important,” she said.
Gen. Nwachukwu (retd), former Minister of External Affairs, who said he has been friends with Prof. Obiozor for more than four decades, said it was imperative that Ndigbo respect the Ohanaeze President.
“If we don’t respect him, we cannot be respected. Now that we are talking about Igbo presidency, we will send George to lead the charge for us. It will happen. An Igbo man will be president.”
The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, reaffirmed his belief that an Igboman will be president of Nigeria in 2023.
“We are hungry for it. It is our turn, we have he capacity and we have the people. Let us rebuild our homeland. Ohanaeze, you will lead us, bring peace and rebuild our homeland, create opportunities for us.”
Speaking in the same vein, the immediate past President of Ohanaeze, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, said Igbos are at the crossroads and requested his successor, Obiozor, to urgently summon a meeting of Ime Obi Ohanaeze because danger is lurking.
“Let Ndigbo give you the mandate. We have people who will do this battle. You are at a moment in history.”
The roll-call at the meeting which started at about 8pm on Saturday and didn’t end until the early hours of Sunday was who-is-who in Igboland.
Apart from Uzodimma, the chief host and Prof. Obiozor, other guests included Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, First Republic Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amechi; Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe; Prof. ABC Nwosu, former Minister of Health; and Prof. Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Also in attendance were Lady Victoria Akanwa, Gen. Ike Nwachukwu, Nze Ozichukwu Chukwu, former PDP National Vice Chairman, Southeast; Chief Ikedi Ohakim, former Governor of Imo State; former Senate President, Chief Adolphus Wabara; Chief Nnia Nwodo, immediate past President General of Ohanaeze; and his predecessor, Chief Gary Enwo-Igariwey; former chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Simon N. Okeke; former Chief of Army Staff, General Azubuike Ihejirika; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Uche Ogah; Senator Frank Ibezim, Hon. Chike Okafor, a member of the House of Representatives.
Also in attendance were former chairman, Southeast Council of Traditional rulers, Eze Cletus Ilomuanya; chairman Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers, Eze E. C. Okeke; Imo State Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku; Secretary to Imo State Government (SSG), Chief Cosmas Iwu; Ohanaeze Secretary General, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, among several others.
