Igbo group, Ohaeneze Ndigbo, has stated that an Igbo candidate will take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, President- General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor, said Nigerians would overwhelmingly support a president from the South East as it is the turn of the region.
He also said the nationwide consultation embarked upon by Ohanaeze is getting positive results and said Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark’s recent remarks that the South East should produce the president in 2023 is a good sign for the Igbos.
“We have been consulting and the result of our consultation is producing results. A leader from the South South, Edwin Clark has come out to say that the South East should produce the next president in 2023. That means we are working and consulting. We are calling on all major political parties to zone the presidency to the South East. That’s the right thing to do. Anywhere in Nigeria or across the world, you must find an Igbo man. It means we are the only tribe supporting one Nigeria.
“People always say that Igbo don’t speak with one voice. The Igbo man or woman can’t speak with one voice, we accommodate everyone. It is the duty of the leaders to articulate these various voices and ensure that we present a common position. That is what we will do in 2023.”
Also, former Enugu governor, Okwesilieze Nwodo, has said the South East would not support any political party that did not field an Igbo person as its presidential candidate for the 2023 poll.
Nwodo speaking at a reception organised by leaders of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 19 northern states and FCT for Prof. Obiozor, in Abuja, on Monday, April 19 said;
“We have been treated badly in this country for long. I am a Board of Trustees (BoT) member and National Executive Council (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
I was their first national secretary, and I have been the chairman of the party. I have told them repeatedly that the only way they can get the support of the South East in the general election in 2023 is to zone their presidential ticket to the region.
”Any of the national party, between PDP and APC, that fields Igbo candidate will surely get 100 per cent support from Igbo people. This time, Igbo has no party of choice as was the case in the past. We will ‘sheepishly’ queue behind any party that presents Igbo candidate for the presidency. That is what we want and that is what we are interested in. We are due for that position. It’s only Igbo that can clean up the Nigerian system putting the country on the track of growth and development.”
