Ohanaeze Ndigbo, IPN back power shift to South East in 2023

•‘Amaechi’s traditional title will strengthen North’s support for Igbo presidency
• Nnamani seeks PDP’s presidential ticket for Ugwuanyi

The Indigenous People of Nigeria (IPN), led by Maxi Nnamdi Iroegbu, has backed the move by Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide for the emergence of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

This followed as Ohanaeze Ndigbo said at the weekend that the relationship between the North and South East will be further strengthened by the conferment of traditional title on the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in Daura, Katsina State, saying the title was an indication of the North’s acceptance of Igbo Presidency in the next political dispensation.

It argued that Amaechi’s Pan-Nigeria posture has further strengthened the cordial relationship between the North and Eastern Nigeria, which they said, had brightened the opportunity for the emergence of a new Nigeria anchored on justice and equity.

In a statement issued in Kaduna at the weekend, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, described Amaechi, who was conferred with the traditional title of Dan Amanar Daura, as a beloved son of Igbo nation and the battle-axe of Ndigbo.

On his part, Iroegbu told The Guardian, yesterday, in a statement that IPN was ready to collaborate with the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation and other ethnic nationalities and interest groups for the unity that Nigeria desires in 2023.

He commended Ohanaeze Ndigbo for the initiative in setting up an Action Committee headed by its President-General, Prof. George Obiozor, towards the actualisation of a presidency of Igbo extraction in 2023.

Iroegbu described Obiozor as “a man of excellence and repute and an international diplomat, who understands the game of power and strategy,” adding that Obiozor understands and knows the need to lobby and woo other Nigerians and other interest groups to ensure justice, equity and fairness in the country

“We once again restate the yearnings of majority of Nigerians in the six geopolitical zones for power to shift to the South East region for equity, fairness and justice. In times of perdition like we find ourselves in Nigeria today, the need to petition for salvation from the East is the common action in nation building,” the statement reads.
MEANWHILE, former Governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, has said political leaders in the South East have begun a movement for Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to emerge as candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential elections.

He said consultations by the Ebeano Political Family have reached an advanced stage on the Ugwuanyi presidency next year, adding that justice, fairness and equity demand that the country should allow the South East region to produce the next president.

“Our leaders and the Ebeano Political Family in Nigeria and in the Diaspora have consulted widely and believe in the actualisation of Governor Ugwuanyi as the presidential candidate of the PDP and president of Nigeria in 2023,” he said.