The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has said the Ndigbo 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 with one of our correspondents in Enugu, said during the visits, Ndigbo would persuade other ethnic nationalities to convince all political parties to field the Igbo as presidential candidates.
Ohanaeze spokesman also allayed fear that the high number of Igbo, who were reported to be nursing presidential ambition would work against the South-East.
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.
Commenting on the issue, Ogbonnia, in the interview with newsmen said the more the merrier, adding that even if contenders were 100, it would be better.
The spokesman, who disclosed that a timeline had not been fixed on when the Ndigbo would meet other ethnic nationalities, said after the January 21 meeting plans would be unveiled.
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.”
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.
He stated, “That is where we play regulatory role like during the late Alex Ekwueme and Senator Jim Nwobodo, Igbo will now play a regulatory role among the aspirants contesting; to tell them that this is the person the Igbo are supporting.”
