The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has suggested its readiness to present candidates from the South-East geopolitical zone for the presidential election in 2023.
The leader of the socio-cultural organisation, Prof. George Obiozor, while speaking on a television programme on Thursday, noted that it is only fair for power to rotate from North to South, and the South-East getting it for the first time in Nigerias history.
Several presidential aspirants have emerged from the zone, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim; Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi; former Governor of Abia State and Majority Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Kalu; former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN), Kingsley Moghalu, among others.
According to Prof. Obiozor, Definitely, the idea of the President of Nigeria from Igboland is an idea whose time has come. It is politically and morally justifiable. As a matter of fact, it is important that at this time in the history of Nigeria, we will make reasonable decisions in order to heal the nation; give every part of the country a sense of belonging, stop the bickering and reunite the country, and reinvigorate the spirit of nationalism.
To be candid, we, in Igboland, are also ready to give you candidates and presidential aspirants that are competent, nationalistic, with the capacity to perform, with evidence of what they have done and what they can do for the rest of the country. Indeed, we are ready and all we are asking the nation is to obey the law of rotation in our history, which has been North and South and which created the balance a political balance that has held our country together.
Responding to another question on why the South-East should produce the next president, Obiozor said the statistics on presidents and creation of states and local government areas as well as the National Assembly have shown that the zone deserves more.
The retired ambassador also stated that people of the South-East are unanimous on the call for power to go to the zone after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Ohanaeze leader also called for amnesty for members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra and its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is being tried by the Federal Government.
