A former presidential aspirant in the 2019 elections, Udoka Charles Udeogaranya, Northern Elders Forum and the entire Northern Nigeria to back the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, in succeeding the President Muhammadu Buhari, next year.
He said by supporting the former Anambra State governor, Northerners would ensure the wish of the late former Minister of Steel Development in the Second Republic, Paul Unongo, of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, is achieved.
In a statement to commiserate the passing of Unogo on Monday, Udeogaranya maintained that it was time the Northerners support a candidate from the South-East to emerge as Nigeria’s president.
The statement read, “The Northern Elders Forum and entire Northern Nigeria should honour and heed the wise counsel and wish of the recently departed soul of Wantaregh Paul Unongo, OFR.
“No Nigerian who is sincere to himself or herself can be in denial that the Igbos who Nigeria has denied presidency for over fifty years, should not produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023; a singular action that will unite Nigeria and build inclusiveness for Nigeria to move forward.
“Nigerians in general and particularly the good people of Northern Nigeria must put all hands on deck and ensure that Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party and as well, the best candidate on all numerous fronts, emerge victorious on the 2023 presidential election for the common good of all the people of Nigeria.”
While commiserating with the family of Unongo and the entire people of Northern Nigeria, Udeogaranya prayed to God to grant the soul of the departed eternal life and reunite Northern and Southern Nigerians as brothers in one accord.
