The apex socio-cultural organization in Igbo land, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has declared that the only way to get the presidential ticket zoned to the South East by the political parties is through dialogue and persuasion and not violence.
This is contrary to a report circulating in the social media platforms that the acclaimed National Youth President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, had warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to zone its presidency to the South-East or face the wrath of Ohanaeze Youths.
But the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth President, Imo State chapter, Dr Ezechi Chukwu, told Nigerian Tribune in Owerri on Thursday that the position of Ohanaeze Ndigbo had always been to persuade the various political parties, especially the two leading political parties such as PDP and APC to zone their presidency to the South-East.
He said: “Considering the fact that Ndigbo over the years have been marginalised while other zones in the country have had their own shares of presidential slot, Ohanaeze is of the view that justice is required that the presidency should be zoned to the South-East by the various political parties.”
He revealed other steps being taken by Ohanaeze Ndigbo towards the realisation of the presidential ticket which includes reaching out to other geopolitical zones to key in the merit of the argument, adding that the votes from the South-East could not give the zone the presidency.
According to him, “Ohanaeze must toe within the ambit of political dynamics and nitty-gritty of the country to enable her appeal and convince other zones and ethnic nationalities of the country to key into the idea of Igbo presidency come 2023.”
Chukwu added that “it’s not the question of aggressiveness or violence,” adding that violence at that level could not give Ohanaeze victory.
According to him, “Ohanaeze, already at the national level is reaching out and discussing with other ethnic nationalities such as Afenifere, Niger Delta Forum and Arewa Consultative Forum among others.”
He also clarified that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth body has no president because of the lingering crisis that had engulfed it for some weeks.
Dr Chukwu reiterated the group had not attended what should be its National Executive Council meeting owing to the crisis, adding that there was no way Comrade Igboayaka would claim to be the National Youth President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
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