How Ndigbo reacted to Buhari’ promise of Igbo presidency in 2023

Reactions by different Igbo groups have trailed the claim by President Muhammadu Buhari that the political future of the people of South-East is resting on his re-election.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, President Buhari had at the Southeast APC mega rally in Imo State, organised by Governor Rochas Okorocha opined that the political future of Igbo in Nigeria depends on his re-election in 2019.

He also insinuated that this would inveease the chances for an Igbo presidency in 2023.

He had said, “2019 is an election that will make or mar the chances of Igbo in Nigeria. I want Igbo to make a paradigm shift.”

But in their reactions, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igboezue International Association Nigeria and the Diaspora (IIAND) and the Movement for the Emancipation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) all condemned the statement.

Ohanaeze, which reacted in a statement through its spokesman, Chuks Ibegbu said, “The political future of Ndigbo lies on God and not on any man. Nobody should play God over the political fate of Ndigbo. We have nothing against President Buhari’s re-contest but nobody should threaten or cajole us with that. The actions, utterances and activities of any presidential candidate for 2019 will determine if Ndigbo would identify with his or her aspiration in 2019.”

Also in its response, IIAND said in a statement by its president general, Chief Pius Okoye, that only God will determine the future of Igbos in Nigeria and not man, party or any election whatsoever.

READ ALSO: Sen Abaribe vows to continue opposing ‘a president who does not stand by the people’

He said, “If the treatment meted on Igbos by seizing their millions of pounds sterling in the banks, confiscating of their properties in almost all parts of Nigeria, including nearby Port Harcourt, Rivers State; declaring their properties as abandoned properties, by the then Nigerian government and their cohorts, and the stipend given to them to start life afresh did not decide Igbos future, then Buhari, APC and no man can do that, but God.”

Correspondingly, MASSOB in a statement by its leader, Uche Madu, not only dismisset Buhari’s position as baseless, but added that it was another two-faced plot by Buhari to deceive Igbo people.

“Ndigbo can never be dependent or attached to President Muhammadu Buhari or any other man,” he said, adding that the statement was “another hypocritical plan to deceive the people of Biafra.”

 

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