As political parties prepare for primary elections, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has once again urged the two major political parties to prioritize national interests before nepotism.
This was said by Ohanaeze Secretary-General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday.
He stated that it was incumbent on the delegates of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to preserve the country from impending fragmentation by guaranteeing the election of a Nigeria President of Igbo descent.
While asking how the Northern region of the country could produce the two main parties’ national chairman and presidential candidates at the same time, the group stated Ndigbo were being pushed to the wall.
Isiguzoro maintained that “the Nigerian President of Igbo stock from the seven Igbo speaking States, including Anioma ( in Delta,) and Ikwerre (in Rivers) will halt the disintegration threats to Nigeria’s corporate existence and unity beyond 2023.”
“Another northern presidency after President Buhari in 2023 will be Nigeria’s doom and a reinforcement of the secessionist campaign.
“We ought to have learnt from President Buhari’s failure to end the Boko Haram and bandits’ terrorism in the North,” he cautioned.
He urged the APC and the PDP national delegates “to jettison money politics and put Nigeria’s unity first by voting for any of Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi (Ikwerre, Rivers) and Gov. David Umahi (South-East) in APC and Gov Nyesom Wike (Ikwerre Rivers) and Peter Obi (South-East) in PDP.
“Never in the history of our country has a particular region produced a Presidential candidate and the National Chairman of the party at the same time.
“It will be absolutely unacceptable for the PDP National Chair, Dr. Ayu and APC’s Senator Adamu to plot for Northern Presidential candidates. This will spell doom for Nigeria, as there will be election boycotts in the South-East “.
“This is the last deciding chance to preserve and defend Nigeria’s unity and peace.
“APC and PDP National delegates should place patriotism above nepotism, and save democracy.
“We acknowledged the Afenifere and Niger Delta’s support for the 2023 Igbo Presidency.
“As for those who are working to scuttle the Igbo agenda for 2023, they will reap anarchy, particularly the Igbo paid agents.
“We have not forgotten Igbo saboteurs that betrayed Dr. Alex Ekwueme in Jos 1998 PDP convention; such people will reap what they are sowing,” he further stated.