The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has warned that any manoeuvring that will deny Ndigbo the Presidency in 2023 will spell doom for the nation.
This was part of the resolutions the youths reached at their meeting in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, where it deliberated on several issues affecting Ndigbo’s economic and political well-being.
In a statement by the Secretary General, Okwu Nnabuike, and Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Ado Osaka, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo youths noted that the Igbo Presidency remained non-negotiable in 2023.
According to them, handing over power to Ndigbo will make justice, equity and fairness to reign in Nigeria’s political arena.
The statement said: “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide met on August 28 in Abakiliki and deliberated extensively on issues affecting Ndigbo, economically and politically, and resolved as follows.
“OYC insists that 2023 Igbo Presidency is not negotiable, and it’s our date with destiny. Any manoeuvring may spell doom for the unity of the country. The unjust appointments since 2015 by the Presidency resulted in the rise of Biafra agitation.
“Those seeking the Igbo votes in 2019 across Nigeria where Igbo reside must consider handing power to the Igbo for justice, equity and fairness in 2023. Those clamouring for restructuring should think twice, and no Northern President will restructure a system that favours the North more than the Southerners. It’s only a Southern President who will restructure Nigeria.
“Ohanaeze youths frown at the report that some cabal in the APC had perfected plans to return power to the Southwest instead of the Southeast immediately after President Muhammadu Buhari quits power. We still insist that the Presidency should refute such negative plot or it will make the Ndigbo to consider other political options before them in 2019.
“We are aware that despite the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials denying the Igbo their constitutional rights in parts of Nigeria to collect their Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) in 2015 outside Igbo land, our voting strength in Southwest is equal to that of the indigenes, even in the North. We have more than 12 million registered Igbo in the North and 5 million Igbo in the Southwest.
“OYC insists that APC has not fulfilled its political promises to the people of the Southeast. These include the campaign promise of President Buhari to revamp Enugu Coal mine, which has been politically closed for 45 years, irrespective of the projects the Presidency insists they attracted to Southeast. But if APC continues to give priority to other zones more than the Southeast, it may spell doom for them, APC needs the Ndigbo more than the Ndigbo need it.”