Igbo Presidency: Group cautions Ohanaeze, S’East aspirants to accept VP slot

A group in the South East, under the aegis of Save Imo, has advised the leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and politicians in the zone to be ready for a vice president slot if the quest to field a candidate from the zone by any dominant political party fails.

Ohanaeze chieftains, at last week’s Ime Obi meeting in Enugu, had urged South East presidential aspirants, in the different political parties, not to take vice presidential slot, but should insist that it is the turn of the zone to produce president.

The national coordinator of Save Imo, Ebubeagu Ekenulo, who gave the advice to the President General of Ohanaeze, Prof. George Obiozor, and other members, including the South East presidential aspirants, in a statement made available to The Guardian, yesterday, urged the leadership of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group to desist from advising the aspirants from the zone to reject the vice presidential slot, if they fail to be fielded as presidential candidates in their political parties during the forthcoming primaries.

The body also urged the South East governors to contribute and rebuild the ancestral home of the Ohanaeze President General in Awomama, Oru West Local Council of Imo State, which was raised down, some months ago, by unknown gunmen.

The statement said: “First, let me salute your courage and tenacity for standing out as a great Igbo leader to defend the common interest of Ndigbo in the Nigeria project.

“You have taken the bullets for which your country home was razed down by unknown gangs and criminals; yet you remained fearless, steadfast and unperturbed.

“I wish the South East governors will graciously rebuild your country home.

“My reason for writing you is to disagree that South East Presidential aspirants shouldn’t accept vice presidential slot offer, in case we are unable to secure the presidential tickets from the two major political parties, All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic party (PDP).”

Insisting on putting plan B in place, the statement said: “It is my strong opinion that South East should have a plan B, incase we are unable to grab plan A.”

“It will be penny-wise pounds foolish if we lose plan A without securing plan B. It would even be incredible if we lose both.”

Ekenulo noted that the many presidential aspirants, who have thrown their hats into the ring, are indicative of the problem looming.

He stressed: “Already, the number of presidential aspirants emerging from the South, particularly South East, is not a good political calculation. There is need to streamline the increasing number of aspirants from South and South East.”