Igbo presidency not negotiable, by Achuzie

PRESIDENT- GENERAL of Igbozurume, an Igbo socio-political organisation, Col. Joe Achuzie (rtd), yesterday said the emergence of Igbo presidency in 2015 is not negotiable.

Achuzie told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Aba, Abia State, that his group was being reorganised to achieve the Igbo presidency.

He said it was the same platform that helped Governor Rochas Okorocha to win the Imo State governorship election in 2011.

Achuzie said that was the resolution at its Third National Executive/Steering Committee meeting, which was held in Lagos in June.

He said: “It must be the turn of Igbos to occupy Aso Rock at the end of President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, though Jonathan still has the right to recontest in 2015 by virtue of the 1999 Constitution.

“But Igbos must not allow the chance to pass us by.’’

Achuzie said the Ohaneze has been in existence since immediately after the civil war, but as a cultural and social group, which made it difficult for Ndigbo to unite and present an Igbo presidential candidate.

He said: “Sir Arthor Mbanefo and some others urged Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe to contest fhe Presidency when the military decided to give civilians the opportunity to vie for it.

“Since Azikiwe’s attempts, no Igboman has been allowed near that position.

“The most we had was compensation for assisting non-Igbo to get into the position and they gave us the position of vice-president.

“This would not happen again. We will not give our support to a non-Igboman anymore.

“Enough is enough. We will not serve other people again. Let others reciprocate the help we gave them in the past by supporting an Igboman to become the President of Nigeria.”

“And we will gladly give that group the seat of the vice-president.”

Achuzie said that the body would not engage in partisan party politics but assured that the group would relate to any party that has a better chance for Igbos to actualise the presidential demand.

He said: “Ndi-Igbo must decide who goes for us and should not accept imposition of Igbo candidates by other zones.

“The zoning arrangement of PDP is an internal arrangement for its members only, and shall not disrupt our quest for Igbo presidency after the tenure of Jonathan.”

According to him, Igbozurume is an organisation fashioned out to protect, defend and demand the political rights of Ndi-Igbo from the centre, and it is for all Igbos both at home and the Diaspora.”

via The Nation