Groups canvassing presidency of Igbo extraction, at the weekend, pledged to collaborate with other interest groups from other regions to give the country a credible leader from the South East region in 2023.
They resolved that such a leader would be an experienced and trusted technocrat, who would conduct government business in such a way as to positively impact growth, unity and development of the country.
The groups stated this at the third presidential aspirants’ handshake from South East zone organised by SEFORP2023 and its partners in Enugu, stressing the need for preservation of the country’s unity in 2023 and beyond.
Speaking at the meeting, National Coordinator of SEFORP2023, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, said the reason for this was to give fairness and justice to all geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
The coalition, which drew representatives from various parts of the country, said denying the Igbo the presidency after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023 would be akin to pushing the South East people out of Nigeria.
Obioha argued that the South East region remained the only zone that had not produced the president despite its contributions to the unity and growth of Nigeria, explaining that the development is responsible for the constant agitations by Igbo youths.
He lamented that the South East had always remained at the receiving end, pointing out that after the civil war, its people were given two pounds, despite the fact some persons had huge amounts of money in their bank accounts.
“That was why after the war, the issue of abandoned property came up, which dispossessed our people of all their property as part of the ploy to subjugate them.”
Yet, they have continued to survive, make progress and have made their marks in trade and commerce.
“Before the war, the South East economy was thriving to the extent that when other regions wanted to secede, the Igbo refused and became the pillar in the struggle for the independence and unity of the country.
“Independence was achieved in 1960 and since then, other parts of the country had taken their slot at the presidency except the South East zone. So we are pleading with other parts of the country to consider the zone in 2023.
“We ask the political parties that reenact the 1999 episode during which all presidential tickets were ceded to the South West and give their tickets to the South East. Doing so will help preserve the unity of Nigeria,” he stated.
Obioha stated that allowing the region to produce the presidency would facilitate the country’s development, adding that it would heal other wounds in the land.
