2023: Igbos will cease to be Part of Nigeria if denied Presidency ― Ezeife

The former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife has warned that if the Nigerian Presidency is not zoned to the South East, it means that the Igbos are not wanted in the country, which would result in the Igbo splitting from the Country.

Ezeife, who disclosed this during the inauguration of South East for President 2023 (SEFORP 2023), FCT branch, said the Igbos would explore every option which includes lobbying and prayers to secure the presidency in 2023, but if it fails, it means the country does not need the Igbos, and it may then consider pulling out of Nigeria.

He expressed happiness with the formation of an advocacy group, South East for President 2023 (SEFORP 2023). He described the group as a mature agitation platform to get global attention and galvanise support for the realisation of the 2023 Igbo presidency agenda.

“The first thing we must do is to hold national prayers because all powers belong to God. As we pray fervently, we will work tirelessly and most importantly establish a united front to get that.

“If we do all these things and other things that are expected from us within the constitution, and yet we didn’t get the presidency of Nigeria in 2023, then we would consider ourselves not welcomed in Nigeria.

“We have the capacity and numbers to produce Nigerian president. Anything otherwise would make us cease to be citizens of Nigeria. Even if Nigerian state rejects us, we cannot reject ourselves. As far as I am concerned, this is the final push for Igbo presidency.

“Nigeria has been pushing us out of Nigeria. The government of Nigeria has not helped matters too. We are denied political appointments, employment in certain areas, our peoples’ businesses are frustrated through government policies. We can’t take this anymore,” Ezeife said.

Addressing journalists, the former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, said the pursuit for Igbo presidency is about justice and equity.

He said the virtually all the geo-political zones have held the presidency, the least which is South-South that ruled for 5 years, but the South-East had only ruled the country for only 7 months.

“This pursuit of Igbo presidency is about a pursuit of justice, equity and fair play. Virtually every geo-political zone in this country has held the presidency, the minimum being South-South for 5 years and a few months. For Igbo race, it is only 7 months, no person of South-East extraction has become a President of Nigeria in our 59 years of independence, we never had political power for more than seven months.

“So, it only behoves men and women who care about social justice, who would like God to bless Nigeria to do what is right so that we would not incur the wrath of God.

“If anybody is eminently qualified to be president of Nigeria, it is the Igbos, for they cement Nigeria together, in every state, after the indigenes, the next larger population is the Igbo people, why are we the ones marginalized and not regarded as part of this country.

“So, it is a matter of social justice that an Igbo president will emerge in Nigeria come 2023 that is why we are supporting those, we believe in one string Nigeria, we don’t want factionalization, we don’t want dismemberment of Nigeria, we want one viable Nigeria, and we can achieve this by doing the right thing, the Igbo presidency and restructuring,” Professor Nebo said.

SEFORP Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chairman, Callystus Agomuo, in his remarks, said that southeast geo-political zone has contributed a lot in making presidents of Nigeria from other regions.

He, however, requested that the people be accorded same privilege in 2023 when the North will complete eight straight years in power (two terms).

“It may look like a tall but it’s an achievable dream that only requires collective responsibility of all of us to propagate the gospel and epistle in every socio-political party and association that we belong. Drum it loud and clear into the ears of global audience that the presidential seat of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023 is for the southeast geopolitical zone,” he said.