To meet Buhari, Obasanjo, Atiku, Tinubu over zoning of office to South East
The Ohaneze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) has chosen former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon to lead its campaign for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.
The OYC in a statement on Friday by its president, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and secretary, Okwu Nnabuike, disclosed that it would approach General Gowon to lead the search for a unified Igbo presidential candidate ahead of the next general elections.
“God has kept General Yakubu Gowon alive for the singular reason to cement the unity of Nigeria by facilitating the emergence of a Nigerian president of the Igbo stock in 2023, 50 years after the Biafra War ended”, it added.
The organisation said it would commence a persuasive approach and aggressive consultative negotiations when the COVID-19 crisis is over.
The body also said it would engage President Muhammadu Buhari, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, and APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, Atiku, among others, in a dialogue to actualize its campaign.
It warned power brokers, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and other stakeholders of the grave consequences of leadership imposition on Nigerians, while urging Nigerians to respect “the gentleman’s agreement of rotational presidency between the North and South,” adding, “though the agreement is unwritten but must be respected for the future and sustainable peace”.
The OYC described Nigeria as a nation threatened by the personal gains of a few political leaders against the collective interests of the people.
“Any attempt to ambush Igbos legitimate political interests to produce a President either from South/South or Southeast in 2023, will strengthen the agitation of self-determination across the country.
“Oduduwa and Biafra referendum and independence will gather international recognition and make the future of Nigeria bleak.”
The statement admitted that every Nigerian has the right to ascribe for the highest office in the land, but posited that collective interest supersedes the individual quests.
