The need for Nigeria to have a president of South East extraction has been written in many media, discussed across several platforms and debated on by a plethora of analysts. As a matter of fact this agitation has even reached the presidency at Aso Villa. The average Igbo man now has two options – The Biafra consideration or a compensation of the Igbos for the acute marginalization it has suffered over time, with the highest office in the country – The President and Commander in Chief of the armed forces.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said the Ndigbo months ago, started the agitations which turned into a plea to other geopolitical zones, down to the political parties to reserve the presidency slot and zone their presidential tickets to the south east respectively. Now Ndigbo’s plea has turned into as lobby, a political networking of some sort. The socio political group disclosed just last week that it will after January 21, visit other zones in the country with a view to seeking their support for a president of Igbo extraction in 2023.
The Ohanaeze National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who disclosed this in an interview in Enugu, said during the visits, Ndigbo would persuade other ethnic nationalities to convince all political parties to field the Igbo as presidential candidates. He said “Ohanaeze Ndigbo will meet and top on the agenda is Igbo presidency and how to meet ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, to convince them that all the political parties should nominate the Igbo for president of Nigeria. “Secondly, assuming that it works that way that all political parties nominate the Igbo, then we have no other work again or role to play because whoever will emerge finally will be an Igbo.”
While this can be said to be a necessary move, the worrisome aspect is the sheer number of persons of Igbo extraction that have so far indicated interest in becoming president come 2023 . The number is growing yet we haven’t entered into the thick of political events. Currently, South-Easterners including the Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi; former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu, a former president of the Senate, Pius Anyim, Minister for Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and the Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba have been reported to be interested in the 2023 presidency. The number is expected to increase in the coming days and months.
News Echo wonders if ‘more translates to merrier?’ Alternatively is it not better that Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igbo leaders of thought, Igbo captains of industry, the elders forum and so on close ranks, collapse their structures to promote and advertise one person, just one person who is politically broad, technically sound, socially aware and nationally appealing for the position of president so that the entire Ndigbo will throw its weight behind him?
Ohanaeze in its Intelligence quotient seemed to answer the question when Chief Ogbonnia allayed fear that the high number of Igbo, who were reported to be nursing presidential ambition would work against the South-East. According to the Ohanaeze spokesman, the more the merrier! He added that even if contenders were 100, it would be better. According to him, if Ohanaeze notes that the high number of aspirants is affecting the chances of the Igbo, it will intervene and urge some of them to step down for the most qualified aspirant. But is Ndigbo making a mistake with this comment.
News Echo submits that Ohanaeze as a thinking cap and policy maker for Ndigbo should look before they leap, think before they act and not put the cart before the horse lest it rids the South east of the sweet apple!
