A former governor of the old Anambra State ,
Dr . Chukwuemeka Ezeife , tells TOBI AWORINDE
that the emergence of an Igbo president in 2019
would put an end to ethnic- based
marginalisation in Nigeria
what do you think of calls for an Igbo president in
2019 , amplified by former President Olusegun
Obasanjo ?
Obasanjo is not ordinary . There is a story I will
tell you: When Obasanjo was in prison , many
people were preparing for president , including
myself . One morning , my wife , Ugoeze , told me
that I should not waste my money on this
presidency matter and that the issue had been
settled . I said , ‘ What do you mean ?’ She said ,
‘ Obasanjo is going to be president . ’ I exclaimed
and said , ‘ Obasanjo is in prison . ’ But she said
she saw Abdulsalami Abubakar decorating
Obasanjo as president . You can remember that
since then , he has been very crucial to whoever
becomes president in Nigeria .
He chose ( Umaru ) Yar ’ Adua to run for
( president on the platform of ) the PDP (Peoples
Democratic Party ). He made ( Goodluck)
Jonathan run as a south- easterner by virtue of
the death of Yar ’ Adua. Even Buhari, Obasanjo
had a hand in his emergence and victory. So, it
is not easy to just dismiss Obasanjo ’ s statement ,
especially as he has good reason . He says
injustice and marginalisation cause problems
among peoples and groups . He didn ’ t even look
at the national level only . He mentioned Ogun
State and said Ogun West should have the
governorship . It has never had the
governorship . He says continuing with injustice
will cause crises . Obasanjo can father than
most of us and I think he appreciates justice .
Look at the way Buhari is pushing the South -
East out of Nigeria, denying them appointment,
denying those who were in service appointment
and replacing them with other people . Again ,
look at the newspapers today (Tuesday ), $ 30 bn
borrowed for Nigeria ; not one kobo going to the
South - East . So, it is clear . When Obasanjo was
president , nobody was killed for standing for
Biafra . Same thing happened with Yar ’ Adua,
nobody was killed for standing with Biafra . The
same thing goes for Jonathan . But Buhari
started killing our people anywhere he saw
them.
I think it is obvious: Obasanjo saw all these
things and thought of what has happened
before making his comments . I accept his
comments and I think it is fair because it was
just two days after a group of people told me
that they were working for ( the emergence of
an ) Igbo president in 2019 . We have been out of
central power for so long , so we are not as
influential as we should have been. But now ,
with Obasanjo ’ s help , we must reorganise and
restrategise .
How come there has been no Igbo president all this
while ?
The issue of rotation was agreed long ago . In
fact, I was the Chairman of the Power Sharing
Committee at the 2005 (national ) conference .
We recommended rotation across the board .
But it didn ’ t quite start . Now , look at Nigeria .
The way we are aggrieved , we were just facing
disintegration and collapse. I don ’ t want the
disintegration and collapse of Nigeria, but if we
continue with injustice , unfairness , iniquity ,
marginalisation , breaking the constitution by
not giving equal recognition to the various
zones , things will continue like this. I don ’ t see
any saving grace. God created our country
great. He had a purpose; that Nigeria should be
a rallying point and big brother for all blacks .
He endowed us stupendously with surplus
resources. Nigeria has failed because of
monumental corruption that has eaten deep
into every segment of our society . What we
need to do in Nigeria is not to increase
injustice , iniquity , unfairness , and
marginalisation , but to fear God . We must
eliminate corruption and remake Nigeria. Only
a new Nigeria can make progress . We have
already failed so woefully . There ’ s nothing to
help us survive , except by making Nigeria a fair
place.
Do you see any obstacles before the Igbo in the 2019
presidential race ?
Nobody can take it as a guaranteed outcome .
There will be obstacles , some from inside and
some from outside. If it appears to be the will
of God that his purpose for Nigeria will be
achieved , it is most likely that an Igbo man will
emerge as the president and take Nigeria to
greatness more than ever . That is without
prejudice to Fulani , Hausa , Yoruba or any other
group in Nigeria. Every group will gain from
Igbo presidency of Nigeria . No group will lose
out, not even the herdsmen .
What do you mean by internal and external
obstacles ?
There are problems in Nigeria now . Politicians
always want to win . Some people want to win
election and they look for where they can go .
Some of them would rig the results and become
the elected person. I was told by some people in
the North that many people in Anambra are
trying to go to the APC (All Progressives
Congress ). That is an internal problem right
now , although no original Igbo man can go for
that . And if any Igbo person goes for that , that
person will never win election in Igboland for
the rest of his life . That is an internal problem
among the Igbo .
It cannot be guaranteed but efforts are being
made . We heard of the governor of Imo State —
a governor ! — telling us to forget the
presidency in 2019 . It is good that it was he
who said it because nobody takes him seriously
anymore because of his past activities . But that
is the kind of internal problem we are already
having.
Outside , you have major parties : you have the
APC and the PDP working very hard to keep
Nigeria corrupt . If there is a party that comes
out preaching the truth, preaching honesty ,
integrity , justice and fairness, Nigeria is going
to surprise people , instead of continuing with
this bankrupt system .
Will you support Buhari if he endorses someone
from Igboland for president in 2019?
Our life , our future and our prospects are in the
hands of God . The only thing Buhari is good at
is killing our people and depriving them of
anything that is to go to them.
Are you prepared for opposition to an Igbo president
across ethnic divides ?
There will be opposition from the Fulani . I
don ’ t know about the Hausa . I think they are
trying to determine when they will answer
their father ’ s names. The Fulani adopted a
mentality of superiority and an Igbo presidency
will be the best thing to happen to the Fulani
— not the highest class of Fulani , but the
ordinary Fulani . Over 90 per cent of the Fulani
will gain more from an Igbo presidency than
from Buhari’ s presidency.
What is your reaction to those who believe there is
no candidate in Igboland who is popular among
every section of the country ?
That is a very big lie . It is just that we are used
to not considering them ( Igbo ). There are so
many — uncountable . From every village in the
East , you can get a president . We are gifted . Go
to America. Among the professionals there , who
are the dominant people ? Among the politicians
there, who are dominant? Look , there is just no
way to deny God ’ s gift to our people . I could
even roll out some names for you , but there is
no point doing that. I know that Nigerians
know that if they want to rise , they will have to
look for Igbos. For as long as they keep the Igbo
down , Nigeria will stay down.
Do you think that Jonathan’ s presidency will hurt or
help the emergence of a president from the South-
East ?
I don ’ t know . But remember that Jonathan went
to Sokoto State sometime last year , and what
happened ? They were asking him to come back.
From Sokoto , people were chanting , ‘ Come
back, Jonathan . Come back, Jonathan . ’ Besides ,
the man ended (his presidency) on the best of
notes , surrendering to Buhari even before the
results were read out, no matter the quality of
the results . So , this is something for which we
should enjoy, not lose .
How will the detention of the leader of Indigenous
People of Biafra , Nnamdi Kanu , affect the possibility
of an Igbo president ’ s emergence ?
I believe that Buhari will change his mind and
release him . In fact, within this year because
all that he is doing with it is setting a trap for
Igbos. They will come out and say , “ Release
Kanu ” and they are shot down and killed ,
wiped out. So, if it is a bait that Kanu is being
used for or a trap to get the Igbo out in
numbers , I think he will be tired of that and
release him .

http://punchng.com/obasanjo-right-2019-time-ezeife/

Same cycle.. kwruption

Lmao... Obasanjo dey whine you...

many people were preparing for president , including myself .

Again , look at the newspapers today (Tuesday ), $ 30 bn
borrowed for Nigeria ; not one kobo going to the
South - East . So, it is clear . When Obasanjo was
president , nobody was killed for standing for
Biafra . Same thing happened with Yar ’ Adua,
nobody was killed for standing with Biafra . The
same thing goes for Jonathan . But Buhari
started killing our people anywhere he saw
them.

Great man. Always saying it as it is.

We are a confused people I tell you.

Nwosu say we dont need Obj to tell us about 2019 and we should ignore him. Here comes Ezeife telling us Obj is right and we should listen to him.

Mtcheeew! I want Biafra, right now!!