As the clamour for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023 continues to gather momentum, Ndigbo Lagos has said the zoning of the next leader should be rotated to the southeast geo-political zone and not to any other Igbo speaking zone.
The umbrella body of the Igbo nationality groups disclosed this in a statement signed by its president-general, Gen Obi Umahi (Rtd), on Friday, August 21, The Nation reports.
According to Ndigbo Lagos, when it is the turn of other Igbo speaking zones they can seek the office of Nigerian president from where they fall into either south-south or northcentral.
The group went on to note that the 2023 presidency should rotate to the south, adding that those from the southeast geo-political zone should take the slot.
“We are asking for the “Nigerian President of southeast” extraction. We are not asking Nigeria for “Igbo President because that will amount to asking Nigeria to possibly alter geo-political-zones-based rotation arrangement for Presidency in Nigeria”.
“We are asking Nigeria to stay true to it. Igbos in South East will give their aspirations resounding support when the presidency rotates to their geo-political zone”.
“However, we would be excited if there could be boundary adjustments that would unite all of us as one entity.
But before then, let’s exercise our political franchise where we presently are as our Zone,” the statement reads in part.
Earlier, Anaedoonline.ng reported that the minister of labour and productivity, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has said that the 2023 Igbo presidency project was realizable.
The minister said this in an interview with Daily Sun published on Thursday, August 20. Ngige, however, said he would not want to dwell so much on it since the incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari, is yet to complete the first half of his second tenure.
The minister said it was premature to begin politicking for 2023, adding that his comments and choice of a presidential candidate will be unveiled after May 29, 2021.
“I don’t want to discuss the chances because I am not discussing the Presidency and who is filling it next now. I feel it is unfair for the incumbent who has not done up to halftime,” he said.
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