Ohaneze Ndigbo, an apex umbrella of Igbo socio-cultural association has again called for Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023.
President General of Ohaneze, Professor George Obiozor who made this known in Enugu while briefing journalists after the National Executive Council meeting in Enugu over the weekend said that economic and political problems are confronting the country.
Professor Obiozor noted “At the present age of our Country today (about 62 years), we need introspective and retrospective thinking in order to reassess our journey so far as a nation or as a country. In doing so includes serious re examination of our history as one nation. If the truth must be told, the nation has made two consistent mistakes that have worsened the nation’s all other problems leading the nation to near breaking points.
According to him, “For those who can remember, how did we get into the western region crisis in the 1960s? How did we get to the civil war (1967-1970). How did we get to NADECO (Abiola crisis) and even South-South Avengers?
Today, the situation of the country is not totally different but even more complicated”. Obiozor stated
He made it clear that Nigeria was a country negotiated and amalgamated under some agreements that balanced sensitive issues of power-sharing and balancing of power regardless of any other conditions and that It was a system where every person had an equal chance in life regardless of their tribe, race or religion.
“In 1960 at independence, our Founding Fathers – Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe , Sir Ahmadu Belo, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Tafawa Balewa, joyfully embraced both independence and all existing institutions establishing Nigerian unity.
Those Founding Fathers later found out that our country Nigeria, had inherent measures of historic conflict of ideas and ideals. Consequently, all Nigerian leaders even today have utilized Nigeria’s ‘Doctrine of creative use of conflicts and crises’. This old doctrine can be used once more to save the country and control the present crisis”. Obiozor said.
Ohaneze Boss also noted that Nigerian nationalism is receding as ethno- regional nationalism is growing astronomically and suggested it was time to rebuild and restore Nigerian nationalism and national spirit.
“As the national situation is today, it will require Pan Nigerians like Igbos to reinvigorate the nations path to unity. And a southeast Igbo president of Nigeria in 2023 will be one of the most critical but positive decision of the nations history because, it is the right decision and an idea whose time has come.
On the issue of IPOB/ Nnamdi Kanu, he said that Ohaneze had been consistent in asking for political solution to the problem including prerogative of Mercy for Nnamdi Kanus freedom and Amnesty.
“Once more may I repeat, Ndigbo are not secessionists or separatists, Igbos are prepared and deserve the Presidency. It is politically defensible and morally justifiable. To realise this the National Executive council of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has established the Political Action Committee”. Obiozor concluded.
