Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide says it will take its solidarity campaign for a president of Igbo extraction to the SouthWest and South-South zones of the country. On Monday, the apex Igbo socio-cultural group began its consultation with Northern groups in Kaduna, stating that it would extend the same visit to the South-West and the states in the Niger Delta. In a statement signed and made available to New National Star, the Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Okechukwu Isiguzoro said the choice of Kaduna as their first point of call was because the Northerners are kingmakers.
The statement reads: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide resolved to kick- off the 2023 Igbo presidency in the North, which was propelled by the old existing relationship between Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, the former prime minister. “We were determined to resuscitate the old relationship between the North and East.
The North will remain the kingmakers in 2023 and their support will help us in our quest for the 2023 presidency. “There is ongoing suspicion that all Igbo are Biafrans, but we have successfully dismantled that notion that Igbo are looking for the presidency in order to divide the country when there is over N22.4tn worth of Igbo investments and properties in the North. “We are heading the way to the South-West and the Niger-Delta for their support for Igbo presidency in 2023. We are going to enjoy our existing relationship between the two Southern zones to lobby for Igbo bargaining positions in 2023. “There is no love lost between the SouthEast, South-West, and Niger Delta except that politicians from the SouthWest and Niger Delta are trying to sponsor division among the Igbo to portray that we are not together in the quest for the 2023 presidency.
“We are looking for stronger ties with all sections of the country; we will interface with all Nigerians with persuasive dialogue and love of the country. “We know that Governor Dave Umahi, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, Chibuike Amaechi and others are committed to the one Nigeria project and are competent in succeeding President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.”