2023 is the turn of Igbo presidency ― Southeast BSO

THE Southeast Zone of the Buhari Support Organisation (BSO) has made a fresh call for a Nigerian President of an Igbo extraction, insisting that it is the turn of Ndigbo to produce the nation’s president in 2023.

Rising from its two-day zonal caucus meeting in Enugu at the weekend, the pro-Buhari’s group stated that after exhaustive and detailed analysis of the zoning and rotation of president convention from Southern Belt to Northern Belt in 1999 to date, it became inevitable that Ndigbo gets the shot at the presidency in next political dispensation.

In a communique issued by the BSO Southeast Coordinator, Stanley Ohajuruka and its Acting Secretary, Godwin Onwusi, the group explained that their proclamation was hinged on the truism that the rotation convention was introduced in 1999 for equity, justice, peace and unity of the country.

According to the BSO Zonal Leaders: “The rotation convention is meant to erase the fears of marginalisation of any ethnic nationality, hence implant sense of belonging to all Nigerians. We are also witnesses on how His Excellency, Dr Alex Ekwueme of blessed memory was shoved aside from a party he co-founded, in order to appease the South West, and His Excellency Ogboniya Onu was also in the same manner shoved aside, hence the commencement of the rotation of president from the South West in 1999.”

ALSO READ: 2019: Buhari’s certificate saga, unnessary plot by PDP to divert attention from issues ― Group

The communique reads in parts:

“That in spite the shoddy manner Ekwueme was treated at the Jos Peoples Democratic Party convention and Onu at the defunct All Peoples Party convention at Kaduna, Ndigbo still went ahead to vote along the agreed rotation convention.

“It is as well worthy to note that in spite of unintended consequences the zoning convention train progressively moved North in 2007, South-South in 2010 and North in 2015.

“Taking into consideration that our brothers and sisters of the South West and South South are primary beneficiaries of the zoning convention – 8 & 5 plus years respectively; it behoves on all patriots and people of good conscience to accord the South East our due.

“The true position is that since our return to civil rule in 1999, the South East is the only geopolitical zone in the Southern Belt that had not tasted the juicy and cosy ambience of Aso Rock Villa. We are patiently waiting for 2023 for South East to occupy Aso Rock.

“Without being immodest anything contrary will regrettably reinforce the view of those who do not cherish the uncommon stride of Nigeria as a giant of Africa. And most importantly will unwittingly reinforce the views of those who both overtly and covertly preach a disintegrated Nigeria.

“By the same token, we would want to remind His Excellency B.R. Fashola that President Muhammadu Buhari’s edifying beads are brand collectively woven by all of us. Accordingly, we shall mobilise Ndigbo both at home and abroad, in a Bi-Partisan manner to vote for Buhari in 2019. For Buhari’s victory is the surest route to our quest for President in 2023.

“Already, some eminent Igbo like Chekwas Okorie of UPP are keying into the Igbo President Project.

“To be exact, BSO candidly wants to reassure Nigerians that APC and by extension President Buhari is not against restructuring; APC is putting finishing touches to the Malam Nasir Elrufia Committee’s report on restructuring. What we disagree with is the undefined agreement of Ohaneze Ndigbo Leadership with His Excellency Atiku Abubakar’s vague promise on restructuring within six months in office.

“We differ with Ohaneze spokesman, Achi-Okpaga who said: “I am saying that becoming the president or the vice president is not the interest of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. The interest of Ohanaeze is restructuring the system because becoming the president or the vice president will only enrich few privileged individuals.

“Therefore, BSO cautions that we should avoid boarding ‘One Chance Bus’, because we hunger to restructure our over the centralised centre; for restructuring cannot be done with Fiat-Executive-Order, without the amendment of relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which falls into the rigid cadre.”