The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said no to the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar’s proposed single tenure if elected as president in 2023.
Bibian Anekwe News understands that the Southern region of the country is hopeful of producing the next president of Nigeria.
Stakeholders from the region have in different publications stated that no region other than the South should succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Recently, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, Raymond Dokpesi, said it will not be fair and just should power return to the South in 2023 as the region has ruled Nigeria longer than the north.
Bibian Anekwe News reports that the politician support the candidacy of Atiku Abubakar, saying that the former Vice President would govern Nigeria for a single term only if elected as president.
He vowed to go naked if Atiku fails to hand over power to the Igbos after the single term.
Ohanaeze has, however, described the proposal as a hoax.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Ohanaeze Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the remark was a collective disrespect to people of the southeast.
Isiguzoro states further that Igbos are not only rejecting the Atiku proposal but will also reject the vice-presidential slot, stressing that the region should be allowed to produce a president in 2023.
Ohanaeze in the statement signed and issued to newsmen on Wednesday, recounted how Atiku rejected a single term offer from Igbo elders in 2019.
It said: “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has declared openly that attempts to trick and entice the southeast with attractive offers from the ally of former Vice President and 2019 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Raymond Dokpesi to get southeast’s support for his principal (Atiku) in 2023 are hoaxes and collective disrespect on the sensibility of the people of southeast, no amount of enticing promises will make southeast to swap their right to 2023 presidency to anyone.
Atiku Abubakar’s refusal to adhere to a written request from Igbo elders for a Mandela option of a single tenure in 2019 will continue to haunt his 2023 presidential ambitions, instead, he replied to Igbo leaders in 2019 with his then six years economic blueprint for Nigeria (2020-2026) which was a clear understanding of having the ambition of a two-term as president if elected.
“This evidence is now contradictory to the recent request from Atiku’s ally for southeast’s support, as no force can thwart the 2023 Igbo Presidency Project with vice presidential offer to the southeast, which is not feasible, as there will be a power shift from the North to the East in 2023.”
Bibian Anekwe News
