THE apex Igbo Socio-Cultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has urged other parts of the country not to deny the South-East the presidency in 2023 because of the agitation for Biafra by the  Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, saying such is lame and weak.

Noting that equity, justice, and fair play support zoning the top job to the Igbo, Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Chief Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, in a chat with Vanguard, yesterday, said ceding the presidency to the Igbo will douse tension and create stability in the zone and by extension the country.

Ohanaeze spoke as the 2023 presidential campaign posters of Ebonyi State Governor and Chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum, Dave Umahi, flooded  the social media,  with a South-East All Progressives Congress, APC, group, demanding Igbo presidency.

Also, Northern communities in the South-East geo-political zone declared that peace would remain elusive to Nigeria until an Igbo man or woman is allowed to become President.

Meanwhile, former Chairman of the APC in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye has charged Ndigbo to indicate interest in the presidency.

It’s turn of Igbo to \candidates of major parties —Ohanaeze

Speaking on the issue, Ohanaeze said: ”Our position on Nigeria president of Igbo extraction is clear. It is the turn of the Igbo to produce the presidential candidates of major political parties so that ultimately, the next president of Nigeria will be an Igbo man. That is in response to equity, justice, fairness and also for the stability of the country. For the corporate existence of this country, we must recognise the need for that to be done. As a matter of fact, there was an agreement on that in 1998 and people have been observing that agreement.

”When some people say it is not in the constitution, whatever you find in the constitution there are two things about it: morality and legality. Morality is the unwritten or what you call the spirit of the constitution. Morals sometimes have to do with conscience.”

On comments that Igbo politicians are not aspiring, mobilising  and reaching out to other parts of the country,Ogbonnia said: “They are rather saying that the Igbo aspirants are not extravagant like some others but we have people who can achieve results.”

On fears that the agitation for Biafra by the IPOB could hurt the Igbo quest to produce the president in 2023, Chief Ogbonnia said: ”Anybody who comes with that, comes with a lame and weak excuse. The Niger-Delta came with their own agitation and at a point they said to reduce the tension and agitation they zoned the vice president to the South-South, which led to the emergence of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as vice president, and he went on to become acting president and later president after President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua’s death.

”The Arewa people and Boko Haram also came with their agitation. President Jonathan said it was better for Nigeria to remain in existence than to struggle for the victory, and he relinquished power. 

”After the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by late Chief MKO Abiola, the National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, and South-West mounted an unprecedented agitation never witnessed in the history of the country. And they said, let’s settle them and all the presidential candidates were pushed to Yorubaland.  Why should that of the Igbo be different? As much as Ohanaeze is not saying that it is a bargaining chip, nobody should use it to deny Igbo the presidency.

”As a matter of fact, if you zone the presidency to the Igbo, it will be easier for any Igbo to tell Mazi Nnamdi Kanu (IPOB Leader), ‘hold on, don’t go on this again.’ It is the greatest palliative whatsoever.”

Nigeria won’t have peace until Igbo become president—Northern communities

Northern Communities in the South-East  under the aegis of Arewa communities in Igbo land also threw their weight behind Igbo presidency.

Addressing a press conference in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, they said that Igbo should be allowed to succeed President Muhamnadu Buhari in 2023 in the spirit of equity and justice and fairness.

National President of the group, Alhaji Mohammed Nalado Umaru who spoke on behalf of the Arewa communities, said it is now time for power to shift to South-East as that will help to douse tension, engender peace and national cohesion.

“The unity of this country should be paramount in our hearts. This, we can achieve by allowing an Igbo man to emerge as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023″, they said.

They, however, advised Igbo political elites to reconcile their differences and produce a competent and popular detribalised Nigerian to contest for the 2023 presidency, assuring them of full Northern support.

Alhaji Mohammed Nalado Umaru urged other geopolitical zones not to contest for the office of the President but leave it for South-East in the spirit of brotherhood. We are sure that the North, West, South-South and others will support this noble agenda.”

Alhaji Umaru expressed concern over the lopsidedness of Nigeria’s  leadership against Igbo, and called for the correction of the anomaly in 2023 for Nigeria’s continuity, adding:.

“We, the Northern people living in Igbo land are highly in support of an Igbo Executive President in 2023. We live and earn our living in Igbo land and we will continue to live together as an indivisible entity.

“Igbo are accommodating and pan-Nigerians. What will be required from them is to harmonise themselves and produce a detribalised person that will be contesting the 2023 Presidential election.

“Late Sarduana of Sokoto, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa and Obafemi Awolowo did not envisage disunity and war when they fought our colonial masters to secure our political and economic independence.

‘“Our experience today centres on tribalism, nepotism, marginalisation, religious sentiment, bribery and corruption which have eaten deep into our hearts. If we can tell  ourselves the truth, the leadership in the country has been lopsided as sensitive positions are denied a particular ethnic group.

“President, Vice President, Senate President, Speaker House of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Director General of DSS are all occupied by an ethnic group, leaving the Igbo to feel marginalised.

“ We should not fan embers of crisis because where there is war, nothing is secure, let us give peace a chance like our founding fathers.”

Umahi’s presidential posters go viral

Meantime, the campaign posters of Governor’ of Ebonyi State and Chairman,  Engr. David Nweze Umahi, yesterday appeared online to the surprise of those not following the trend in the nation’s political arena.

The presidential posters of the governor was pasted on the glass doors and windows of an establishments in the country.

It read: “2023 Engr. David Nweze Umahi for President.

The posters, which are currently making waves have in a way confirmed the governor’s interest for the position of the President in 2023.

Many who spoke with Vanguard believe that the emergence of Governor Umahi as president in 2023 will lead to the infrastructural revolution of the country, especially in the area of road construction.

According to Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi, Commissioner for Capital City and Urban Development, Ebonyi State, “Nigeria will  miss the train again and lose out in the race for economic competitiveness in the comity of nations” if Umahi is not elected in 2023″.

He added: “In view of these reasons, it is vital that physical infrastructure needs to be as efficient and as productive as possible. That is why Governor Umahi, in his knowingness of the intricacies of the drivers of development, opted to tackle infrastructure headlong upon his assumption of office as governor of Ebonyi State.

“Talking of road infrastructure, it is axiomatic that nobody has equalled Governor Umahi since Nigeria’s Independence, be it president or governor. Upon the inception of his administration, Governor Umahi wasted no time in embarking on aggressive road construction in all the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State.He saw rural roads as important as urban roads and highways, which made him come up with the 15 kilometres rural road per LGA policy.

“For Nigeria to leapfrog into the elite club of developed nations, which most Nigerians yearn for, Engr. Chief David Umahi needs to be the next president of the country. This is because he will invest in all elements of the infrastructure component which will restore Nigeria as the giant of Africa and project it to the status of developed nation.

“From the foregoing, it is undeniable that if Nigerians fail to elect Governor David Umahi as president in 2023, Nigeria will miss the train again and lose out in the race for economic competitiveness in the comity of nations.”
Ex-APC chairman urges Ndigbo todeclare interest for president

In a related development, former chairman of APC in Enugu State, Dr. Ben Nwoye has charged Ndigbo to indicate interest for presidency.“Nwoye who made this call during the inauguration of State executives of the Enugu State Chapter of South East Mandate, said, “it is not enough for Ndigbo to sit down and claim that it is their turn to produce the president.” He maintained that Nigerian president of Igbo  extraction will not be built on a magical planet, hence the need for Ndigbo to indicate interest and fight for it.“”We need Ndigbo to come out and indicate interest for the position of president of South-East extraction in 2023. They should present themselves and run for the president.”You cannot be given the presidency because you are saying it is our turn. President is not given but contested.”

S-East APC group demands Igbo presidency

However, members of the Liberation People of South-East Assembly, LPSEA, a group in the APC, yesterday, called on the national leadership of the APC, to zone its presidential ticket to the South-East zone.

The National President of the group, Henry Chikodiri, in a statement issued in Owerri, said the APC ought to zone the presidential ticket to Igboland for equity and justice.

Furthermore, they revealed they would begin mobilization and uniting of  South-East people to mount pressure for the actualization of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction.

According to them: “There is no other time better than now for the quest for the South-East to produce the next President of Nigeria. The National Leadership of APC should zone the party’s presidential ticket to the South-East for equity and justice.”

Source : https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/11/2023-its-lame-to-deny-s-east-president-cos-of-Igbos-agitation-ohanaeze/

Na wa

Ok

Don't mind the evil idiots looking for silly excuses to continue to promote their injustice.

Were the yorubas denied presidency when they agitated violently with their Odua people's Congress in 1999?

Were the fulanis denied presidency in 2015 when they formed Boko haram, ISWAP, fulani herdsmen terrorists killing people everywhere.

2023 will determine how you want you want your 'One nigeria'. If you wont do the right thing for justice and equity sake, then starve your almajiris and buy more ammunitions because you'll need it in your foolish quest to keep nigeria one with will the injustices therein.

After wasting all that money, your nigeria will still capitulate by the Grace of God because of your wickedness.

You guys have not started begging yet.

You guys supported Igbos to commit all sort and manner of atrocities against the south East both humans and animals, hurting living and non living things physically, emotionally and spiritually. Businesses scrumbled and development was halted. You openly celebrated their evil and wickedness, drumming support for their activities. Now that it seems the tactics didn't work out, you guys are here saying that Igbos activities should not be a determining factor in giving the presidency to the South East.

You guys are talking trash!

Ohaneze and their too much talk.

Meanwhile even if an Igbo candidate emerges unopposed across board he won't still win cus he will not get the required winning percentage.

There will be serious Voters apathy in different parts of the country except the SE.
The candidate won't secure 25% in any of the Northern States and they'll have to beg people with money in the southern States to come out & vote.
This is how bad Ipob unpatriotic behavior has put the igboman to the sword, but it is the bitter reality.

Absolutely lame excuse!
You didn't deny Fulanis presidency because of herdsmen killings. You didn't deny SS because of bunkering and militancy. But you want to deny Igbos presidency because some Igbos who are fed up with Nigeria want out. Anyways, it's up to them, this is probably their last chance to decide if truly they want Igbos to share a country with them.

Igbo have billions of dollars worth of assets all over of Nigeria and for them to put that aside to fight agitate for break up shows the extent they've been frustrated in Nigeria.

Black people naturally tend to be unreasonable when it matters most, and those in Nigeria are worse off.

Denying Igbos the presidency will give IPOB the critical mass they need to achieve Biafra, underrate them at your own peril.

If you love Nigeria, you must support Igbo presidency now!

benuejosh:
You guys have not started begging yet.

Youbguys supported Igbos to commit all sort and manner of atrocities against the south East on both humans and animals, hurting living and non living things both physically, emotionally and spiritually. Businesses scrumbled, development was halted. You openly celebrated their evil and wickedness, drumming support for their activities. Now that it seems the tactics didn't work out, you guys are hear saying that Igbos activities should not be a determining factor in giving the presidency to the South East.

You guys are talking trash!

Then it means that the North that has Boko haram and ISWAP, which are far more deadly, should never go near the Presidency

It also means that Buhari, as a Fulani man, should never have been elected president since he comes from a tribe that uses cattle herding to massacre people all over Nigeria including the South east

Nigerians and their double standards

Sha not under the satanic party APC ... very Mpuru Mmiri elders. Shameless people should focus their energy on freeing Cownu who has incited the murder of many innocent people and burning national assets.

You want the presidential ticket of each Party to be zoned to a particular zone How is that possible
Instead of Igbo leaders to form alliance with Niger Delta and South West leaders to get the ticket, instead they want them to step down just like that
So producing the next president will stop Igbos from killing Igbos continue killing yourselves O! Because Niger Delta will be presenting Wike and Okowa

Abeg I get two years old facebook account to sell. If interested just inbox me. Abeg no time waster.

The kind of spirit of Confusion in SE ehhhhhh

Aufbauh:
Ohaneze and their too much talk.

Meanwhile even if an Igbo candidate emerge unopposed across board he won't still win cus he will not get the required winning percentage.

There will be serious Voters apathy in different parts of the country except the SE.
The candidate won't secure 25% in any of the Northern States and they'll have to beg people with money in the southern States to come out & vote.
This is how bad Ipob unpatriotic behavior has put the igboman to the sword, but it is the bitter reality.

If an Igbo man emerges unopposed and still doesn't not get the required 25% then the problem is with the entity called Nigeria and not with the Igbo man .

The entity is now a flawed country with fault holes and fault lines and ought not to be an independent country

Biafrarep:
Absolutely lame excuse!
You didn't deny Fulanis presidency because of herdsmen killings. You didn't deny SS because of bunkering and militancy. But you want to deny Igbos presidency because some Igbos who are fed up with Nigeria want out. Anyways, it's up to them, this is probably their last chance to decide if truly they want Igbos to share a country with them.

Igbo have billions of dollars worth of assets all over of Nigeria and for them to put that aside to fight agitate for break up shows the extent they've been frustrated in Nigeria.

Black people naturally tend to be unreasonable when it matters most, and those in Nigeria are worse off.

Denying Igbos the presidency will give IPOB the critical mass they need to achieve Biafra, underrate them at your own peril.

If you love Nigeria, you must support Igbo presidency now!

you're a biafra rep who has no right to demand for the Nigerian presidency from Nigerians. Go and meet your savior NNamdi Kanu and demand for Biafra presidency

who is denyin them....??

compete....!! you south east idioots....!!

since when is something like that dashed....??

igbos sound soo stvpid nowadays....

This is not d best way to go about it

kettykin:


If an Igbo man emerges unopposed and still doesn't not get the required 25% then the problem is with the entity called Nigeria and not with the Igbo man .

The entity is now a flawed country with fault holes and fault lines and ought not to be an independent country

If everyone is skeptical about a particular person then the person in question should check himself. Everyone can't be wrong about a particular person at all time.

You can hold any opinion about the country depending on your perception occasioned by an intent. Interestingly it doesn't change the status of the country as sovereign nor affects any government policy & programmes.

Biafrarep:
Absolutely lame excuse!
You didn't deny Fulanis presidency because of herdsmen killings. You didn't deny SS because of bunkering and militancy. But you want to deny Igbos presidency because some Igbos who are fed up with Nigeria want out. Anyways, it's up to them, this is probably their last chance to decide if truly they want Igbos to share a country with them.

Igbo have billions of dollars worth of assets all over of Nigeria and for them to put that aside to fight agitate for break up shows the extent they've been frustrated in Nigeria.

Black people naturally tend to be unreasonable when it matters most, and those in Nigeria are worse off.

Denying Igbos the presidency will give IPOB the critical mass they need to achieve Biafra, underrate them at your own peril.

If you love Nigeria, you must support Igbo presidency now!

Fulani was not handed the presidency, they formed alliances, contested and won power. It will not be different for Ibo, they should learn to align and contest for power, they will wait forever for somebody to hand it over to one of them

You people don't know what you want

Holly Gram real matters. WTF MAN

Deny South East president because it's your birthright?

I need not even bother to read the post but it's high time the south east know, it's not their birthright to be president. Rather than start this emotional blackmail about south east bla bla bla. They should start playing politics by forming alleince with political parties to see if they can get the ticket to contest for the office of President of the federal Republic of Nigeria. It's the same thing APC did.

All this talk about denying south east this and that will go no where. It's that simple.

For ipob they won't want an igbo president so that they can have something to cry about and convince people with. Selfishness is part of mankind

Old fools

They should keep their presidency. Just leave Biafra nation to be

when buhari leaves aso rock there would be wild jubilations across the country

kettykin:


If an Igbo man emerges unopposed and still doesn't not get the required 25% then the problem is with the entity called Nigeria and not with the Igbo man .

The entity is now a flawed country with fault holes and fault lines and ought not to be an independent country

Igbos are politically negligible. How many votes did Igbos give Peter Obi and Atiku in 2019?

Even if an Igbo man is given the ticket today, the infighting within Igbos won't make such person win.

Please shut*** no-one is denying you Presidency, you are only expecting it on a platter of Gold.

It's a game of numbers, but you know u already burn all bridges, so u making excuses...