An elder statesman, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, has advised Ndigbo against allowing themselves to be deceived by insinuations that President Muhammadu Buhari and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would work to bring the presidency to the South-East geopolitical zone in 2023.
He described the notion as an “illusion”, adding that Igbos must work strategically to produce the nation’s president in 2023.
The First Republic Minister made this known in reaction to Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha’s recent comment that Igbos must support Buhari’s second term bid in 2019 to stand a realistic chance of producing the next president in 2023.
Amaechi said Igbos must move beyond the expectation that someone should “dash” them the presidency.
The octogenarian also decried the level of dictatorship in the country, calling on the international community to wade into the humanitarian situation in Nigeria.
Reiterating the recent position of Igbo leaders in Enugu on the presidency, Amaechi, who spoke with Vanguard, said, “My attitude is that anybody who will enthrone restructuring is the person Ndigbo must support.
“What is happening in Nigeria is baffling. The country is not in any state of emergency nor the southeast or any other area but I am worried about the high level of dictatorship; it is becoming alarming.
“I have always said that Presidency is not dashed, you have to work for it, plan for it, strategise to take it because it is not given. Buhari or Atiku will not give Ndigbo presidency. Nobody will give it to them except they work for it.”
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Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to sway South-East voters with fake promises.
The PDP made this known in a Thursday statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
According to the party, the “attempt by the Buhari Presidency to lure the South-East geo-political zones into supporting his second term fell like a pack of cards as the people have resolved not to follow any leader who can not deliver on his promises.
“The party said President Buhari and the APC have been jittery since the Southeast and other geo-political zones across board expressed an overwhelming acceptance of the PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, due to his proven competence, respect for equity and all-inclusiveness in governance.
“Instead of accepting his failure, which is manifest to all, President Buhari, who is reputed for not fulfilling campaign promises, is busy making a fresh list of fake promises to Nigerians.
“In this desperation, Mr. President fails to understand that the people of the South East, just like other Nigerians, are too sophisticated to fall for gimmicks, false promises and ethnic politics, and as such cannot be swayed from their resolve to rally with Atiku Abubakar to rescue our nation from the shackles of misrule.”
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