Igbo elders, under the aegis of Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF), have said it is the turn of the South-Eastern Nigeria to produce the next Nigerian president, and if that did not happen, they break out of Nigeria.
The forum made this know at a briefing in
Abuja.
The Chairman of the forum and former Governor
of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, while briefing journalists, maintained that
South-East region would not accept any position other than to produce the next
president that will succeed President Buhari in 2023.
“Emboldened by the increasing demand and support by credible and patriotic Nigerians for power to shift to the South in 2023, the Igbo Elders Forum hereby encourages visionary, credible and creative presidential materials of South-East zone to declare their intension for Presidency and pursue it with every sense of seriousness, vigour and commitment.
“We are very serious about this directive. Do
not mind those unserious bootlickers who are angling to be running mates to
candidates from other parts of the country, as the Igbos will not take it
lightly with any of our sons or daughters who accept to be running mates to any
person outside the South-East zone in 2023.
"It is either we are allowed to produce
the president of this country in 2023 to change the appalling narrative of
continued decay, poverty, insecurity, poor governance, corruption and
maladministration in Nigeria or out of it.
The group threatened to sanction any Igbo
politician who accepts to be running mate to anyone from another region.
"No half measure, as serious sanctions
will be visited on any Igbo man or woman that sabotages this noble and
patriotic decision of our people to provide for Nigeria a credible, visionary
and creative president.
The South-East geopolitical zone has not
produced President of Nigeria since the fourth republic began in 1999.
"Legally, morally, and strategically, it
is the turn of the South-East to produce the next president of the country as
the other zones have been given the opportunity to serve this country in that
capacity.”
There is an ongoing political tussle over which region should produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023, when Muhammadu Buhari, a Northerner, will be leaving office.
Some other prominent Igbo elders present at
the briefing were the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo (FCT chapter), former
Minister of Education, Prof. S. C Madubuike; Dr Nkonye Kingsley; His Royal
Majesty, Igwe Ibe Nwosu.
