2023:WHO WILL GO FOR NDIGBO?

 

Time is ticking so fast as we gradually step into the activities to herald the political campaign for 2023 elections. With the electoral law passed, INEC swiftly issued election timestable to set the stage for the coming election.

The clamour for Igbo Presidency come 2023 has continued to gain momentum across all geopolitical zones as everyone who believes in equity and fairness has aligned his thoughts and support towards achieving this topical issue in our body polity at this time in our nation.

Afenifere has giving its support for Igbo Presidency even when they have prominent Yoruba candidate as they believe it’s the right thing to do to for the sake of equity and fairness and for the sake of our continued existence as a nation.

Many Northerners have also thrown their weight behind this call with many calling for the integration of Igbos into our political mainstream to show that they are part of one Nigeria through Igbo Presidency come 2023.

A famous Yoruba activist Deji Adeyanju put the clamour for Igbo Presidency this way:

 “Nigeria will not survive what some tribalistic Yoruba people are planning for 2023. Igbo presidency must be on the table now. A Yoruba person can’t be president in 2023 because power will return to the North after another 8yrs. Igbos are Nigerians too.

“All the competent people are not in the South West. Power was not created for only Yoruba people. #Equity #Fairness #Justice”

  This summarises the mood of the nation. And how will I forget the voice of Elder Statesman Edwin Clark who has continued to champion the cause for Igbo Presidency as that is only fair in today’s Nigeria.

The rhetorical question though is, are Igbos ready? Where are the Igbos who are supposed to champion their own cause? 

As at today, its only Anyim Pius Anyim who has openly declared his intension to run under PDP which is widely known as the party where Igbos are primarily members. Many people liked Anyim when he started granting interviews as it seemed to be first time people could hear how intelligent he is with lots of ideas and orational tendencies. But as time beats closers to the actual activity, the voice of Anyim has been lost. People are asking where is Anyim?

Peter Obi, whom youths across all divide in Nigeria are clamouring of which Seun Onigbinde promised to lead the campaign to crowdfund N10 billion for Peter Obi’s presidential ambition if he declares. Many youths from North to South believe that Peter Obi is the bridge between the youth and old politicians who have held our entire nation to the jugular with bad leadership enmeshed in deep rooted corruption and lack of leadership qualities having held position as governor of Anambra for 8 years where he was declared the best governor in Nigeria, a state he governed with utmost fiscal discipline and transparently too.

They believe that Peter Obi based on his antecedents is the best candidate at this ungodly hour to lead our nation at the time of our history considering our economic crisis, rising debt profile and poor social indices to guarantee the future of our youths.

But as we speak now, no one has yet heard from Peter Obi and his party PDP is just two months away to conduct its Presidential Primary election.

Infact, Peter Obi is still telling anyone who cares to hear that he is not thinking about 2023 election rather he is thinking about the number of children out of school, rising poverty, rising debt et al, and the question is, since you understand the problem and people believe in you, why cant you take up leadership to help solve these issues? Does Peter Obi think mere talking about these issues on TV will make the problems go away in a country where hawks are already hovering around to eat up all the chicks and leave the chicken with non? The country requires leadership, someone who is bold enough to say enough is enough, and will danm every consequence and throw himself in the ring to rescue this nation from the precipice. Playing second fiddle will not solve it. Seeking to be appointed running mate will not solve it as we have seen many running mates like Osinbajo come and go, non is constitutionally empowered to even air out their own ideas let alone bring any change they might nurse. They are merely spare tires who can only say yes sir to everything the President says until thy Kingdom comes.

Ekweremmadu who is very qualified to run for Presidency after been in national politics for more than a decade, is busy hoping to destroy zoning in Enugu state where he wants to governor after being Deputy senate President for three consecutives times. What a shame.

Abaribe whom everyone thinks is the mouth piece of Ndigbo, has focused his energy is getting Abi State Governorship ticket after many years at Senate. He openly canvassed support for Atiku Abubakar, when he had the opportunity to tell him the honest truth that this is the turn of Ndigbo that he should jettison his fresh entrance into the foray to contest for 2023 election but rather should support Igbo Presidency as Igbo supported him many times in the past, now its his time to pay Igbos back. Rather, Abaribe openly supported Atiku, even after his brother Anyim had just visited them recently seeking for their support. What a people!

In APC, Orji Uzor Kalu who has been saying he will match Tinubu money for money, was seen in the company of law makers who hosted Tinubu recently and supported him. As at the time of going to press, Orji Uzor Kalu is yet to declare his intensions to contest and parties have just two months to conduct their primaries and submit their candidates to INEC.

As we speak, its only Rochas who has officially declared and seems to be granting interviews to show he is serious. Umahi since declaring, was never serious until he found himself at the receiving end of the law, which I believe was politically motivated anyway to frustrate his presidential bid. But nevertherless, I believe Umahi has the capacity to push his candidacy as he is simply the best performing governor in the history of Nigeria considering his meagre resources and what he has achieved with it. But am afraid, his legal crisis might end his quest as he has since lost steam and doesn’t seem to be forceful about the Presidency he seeks.

I can go on and on to justify the title of this piece, but time will not permit. Hence, I suggest Ohaneze should mobilize Igbos to pool our resources in the form of contributions to support Igbo Presidency. I mean an open donation from all Igbos and all Nigerians who love equity and fairness to contribute towards a pool of fund that will be used to support two Igbos, one in APC and one in PDP to win the primary elections. This is the only way to go as the body language of Buhari shows that he wont mind an Igbo Presidency.

All Igbo at home and in Diaspora will be mandated to donate into this pool through their town union meetings to make direct donations to official bank account that will be managed by Ohaneze to champion the course of Igbo Presidency.

This time is now. Delay could be dangerous. All well meaning Nigerians are beckoning on the Igbos to take a lead on this to make this a reality, we cannot sit back and allow this slip off our hands again because we are busy playing local politics of how to control our states or rather destabilize them and not how to take the lead at the national level. Ndigbo really miss daring and bold leaders in bthe frame of Zik and Dr Alex Ekwueme all of the blessed memory. If these men were to be alive today, they would have gulvanized the Igbos into forming a strong block behind them to clinch the ticket of these two prominent political parties. What a shame!

2023, who will go for the Igbos?