2023: Ex-Muslim pilgrims board chair, Ukandu, harps on Igbo alignment with the North

Former chairman of the Abia State Muslim Pilgrims Board, Suleiman Ukandu, has backed Ohanaeze’s call for political realignment with the North in other to perfect plans for the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction the  in 2023.

Ohanaeze had recently urged all politicians in the zone interested in aspiring for the presidency in 2023 to begin to reach out to other zones. It also called for realignment between the zone and the North to actualise an Igbo presidency in 2023.

Ukandu, who applauded Ohanaeze for the decision, said it was necessary for political leaders in the South East to resuscitate their alliance with the northerners ahead of future elections.

He spoke to newsmen on Sunday in Umuahia, Abia state capital, shortly after the Muslim prayer to mark the 2019 El-kabir, held in Umuahia township stadium.

“The Ohanaeze and other Igbo group are on point for calling for political realignment between the North and the South East zone. I associate myself only on that. Basically, it is important and imperative that the old political alliances between the North and Eastern region should be reinvigorated. Igbos had been alliance with them (North) right from the creation of the country.

“From all the constitutional conferences, till later days, we (Ndigbo) had been in alliance with the north. And the northerners have been comfortable with us.

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“We have been in contact with the north right from the time in memory. They had been living with us. We have been seeing them as quite better people (Northerners) to associate with. We had been doing all our businesses with the north for quite some time. And if every northerner who is sincere could in retrospect, they would know that, Igbos had been one of their best allies North have.

“In fact, eastern region was a loyal ally of the North despite what they normally do to us. All the betrayal we are having in the alliance had not come from South East, the betrayal always come from them. We are loyal to them, but, they have refused to empower us when the need be. Still we don’t mind,” Ukandu said.

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