In pursuit of 2023 presidency the Ohaneze Ndigbo, said it has set aside N10 billion support fund for the realization of Igbo presidency in 2023, and to achieve that the apex body said, it has started consultations.
The socio-cultural organisation urged the northerners to support its bid to clinch presidency in 2023 having been supported them in the past.
Secretary-General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, met with the National President of the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Yerima Shettima, in Kaduna on Monday as part of the organisation’s effort for the Igbo people to produce President in 2023.
The apex body said they believe in dialogue and negotiation, hence, they were ready to do that in order to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor.
He disclosed that Igbo people in the diaspora have set aside the sum of N10 billion support fund for Igbo person of the South East extraction, adding that Igbo delegation had met with some religious leaders in the northern to seek support.
Isiguzoro maintained that the Igbo delegation for 2023 presidency would continue to lobby all parts of the country for the power shift to the South-East region including their kinsmen in kinsmen in Rivers and Delta States.
The scribe urged citizens to take opportunity of abundant human resources that can produce the best for the presidency, adding that the duo of
Rotimi Amaechi and Peter Obi, amongst others are presidential materials.
“We are begging the north to give us the opportunity. You should help us because we know that the North plays the role of kingmaker in politics of this country.
“We are here to ask you to support an Igbo man for the presidency. There should be no more abusive words between North and South-East as we used to read on pages of newspapers.
“What happened to the cordial relationship between Zik and Tafa Balewa? What happened to the good relationship between North and South-East? We must bring back the good memories of old days for the unity and development of Nigeria.
“Igbos have one trillion investment in the North. We are for one Nigeria, we are not for Biafra. We need somebody that is of age that can unite Nigeria. We believe in one Nigeria. We have abundant human resources that can take over from Buhari.
“We have people who are committed to serve Nigeria. We have seven states including Rivers and Delta States where we have Igbo speaking brothers. We have politicians like Rotimi Amaechi, Peter Obi, Rochas Okorocha, among others that can run for the presidency,” Isiguzoro said.
While responding, Shetima told the Ohanaeze delegation that it was good to negotiate when seeking for power, adding that nobody achieves a good thing through threats.
“I have always believed in pan-Nigeria. I believe in the unity of one Nigeria. I have been part of many struggles. I am not happy that Nigeria is where it is.
“People who don’t have an idea of history of Nigeria resorted to abusive words and threat. They resort to champion the cause of Biafra. Gone are those days you use threat to look for power.
“It is a welcome development that you are here to discuss the 2023 general election. Politics is about negotiation. You need to rise above board. Nobody will trust power to you if you resort to threat.
