Tag: Ndigbo

  • ‘Ohanaeze is deceiving Ndigbo on 2019’

    Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Livinus Okwara, in this interview with Musa Odoshimokhe says Ohanaeze is misleading the Igbo on 2019. Excerpts

    Do you see any of the contestants defeating President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 election?

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is the main opposition party we have in the country and when you look at what is happening within it, you will see that none among them can achieve what President Muhammadu Buhari has achieved. Nigerians brought Buhari because they were afraid of politicians who will not serve their interest. So, if you look at the governors for instance, who live larger than life, you will agree that politicians cannot be so trusted. Who can stop the governors if they want to do anything, they can do whatever they want to do as far as Nigeria is concerned. That is why PDP was shouting that Buhari was wicked in the build up to 2015 election. As they were doing this, the man was gaining popularity because instead of the PDP to emphasise issues, they were saying the man was wicked. People have tried to justify Buhari’s conduct in office as a military Head of State. I think Buhari won that election because of his image and personal records of being an upright man. I know that when he was overthrown, Nigerians were not happy. He introduced the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) and Nigerians have never forgotten that period of WAI. Suddenly, if you were in Kaduna and Buhari was in Lagos, you thought Buhari was behind you. People were queuing up to do the right thing. Nigerians were doing what was right when he was the Head of State. So, as at now, I cannot see any character that can do that. It may not be so easy to forget all the 16 years of the PDP misrule. They should still be seeking forgiveness from Nigerians and not trying to get power back. I was praying to have a progressive government once in my life time. This was happiness for me when the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the election. This, at least, will usher in governors who are benevolent, that would see people who are suffering and try to impact on them. Let me say it that Buhari can never be defeated in 2019. They are aware of this and that is why they are saying all sorts of things; they should have waited for Nigerians to forgive them first.

    The opposition says the administration has not met the peoples’ expectation in terms of economy and security of lives…

    The PDP is not a good opposition, they are saying that this is not there, that is not there. For 16 years the PDP was there and they did not do anything about the second Niger Bridge which the Igbo have been asking for. After losing the election, former President Goodluck Jonathan was suddenly regretting what he did not do for the Igbo like the second Niger Bridge after receiving their support. It is rather too unfortunate that we did not give Buhari the support. I was with my people campaigning that they should support Buhari, they ignored and told me that the best Buhari would do was to introduce Sharia. Even the governors from the East did not think Buhari would win. We have the Ohanaeze and I want to ask whether Ohanaeze is a political party or a cultural organisation? As at now, what they are doing is to call Kwankwaso and take him round all the local governments, where we have Igbo Ohanaeze, to recruit people and then give them money, so that they will come and vote for him. They are even compelling the people to say that they must deliver their areas. I still remember that they confess that they are the people that helped the PDP to rig the Southeast. The leader of the Ohanaeze was later begging Buhari to forgive them for not supporting him. Ohanaeze is supposed to be a cultural group, to smoothen the relationship between Igbo and other groups. The average Igbo man is a traveler, they go to the villages and you can see that this had affected their population at home; it has decreased. Most of them are either in Lagos, Kaduna and Maiduguri. They are the ones doing businesses in most remote areas and taking care of themselves. One thing I want the Igbo to understand now is that they are the only southern people that have not tasted the presidency. I warn them in the last election not to ask for presidential ticket in 2019; they must ask for it in 2023. That is the time they can ask for it. The north would have served out their eight years by then. What buried the PDP was that they insisted that Jonathan must continue and the north has not satisfied the eight years. Given that they were not happy, they all rallied round Buhari and defeated the PDP. Buhari would definitely assist those who supported him. It is better for them not to repeat the same mistake again because it is their turn in 2023 because the Southwest will not go again.

    What are the guarantees that the Southeast will get it in 2023?

    It is the PDP that is not assuring the people that the Southeast will get it in 2013 because they know that the political point is against them. I want to assure you that the Southeast will get it because Buhari is a man that is reliable and will support them for the position. Look at the way he relates with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo from the Southwest. He never behaves like former President Olusegun Obasanjo who was always quarrelling with Atiku. Buhari is a plain man and I want to say it that the turn of the Southeast is 2023. They should support the APC because one of the doctrines of the APC is justice.

    If the presidential slot is zoned to the Southeast, do you see them agreeing on a consensus candidate?

    Consensus or not, I want them to be aware of one thing, if you don’t have the support of the north, they cannot go anywhere. If you don’t have the support of the north you are going nowhere. I want to say that Ohanaeze cannot save the Igbo. They did not prevent the PDP from collapsing, so you should not follow Ohanaeze blindly. They are after the money they will make. Do not listen to them, we have a cultural group that preceded Ohanaeze, but when I saw the characters that were there I did not join them. These people, who are there as Ohanaeze are in business, they are not working in the interest of the Igbo. They have never come out to canvass for the Igbo candidate in this build-up to the election for better position. In the past, they supported Jonathan because they wanted contract and money. The Igbo today do not want that because they have had their experiences and would not want what happened in the past to repeat itself. Many of them are now crossing over to the APC in Anambra and other Southeast states.

  • Igbo groups endorse IPOB sit at home order

    Twelve Igbo groups met in Enugu Monday with an endorsement of the September 14th sit at home ordered by the IPOB.

    The meeting which held at the residence of the leader of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA) Chief (Mrs) Maria Okwor, was also attended by traditional rulers, traders associations, Youth groups and students organizations.

    Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the convener Mrs. Maria Okwor lamented the humiliation meted out to Igbo Women who were locked up in Owerri for expressing their opinions in a democracy.

    Read Also:Ohanaeze, Youth Group reacts to IPOB’s sit-at-home order

    She complained bitterly over the continuous ill treatment of Ndigbo as a conquered people.

    She called on Ndigbo to sit at home on Friday September 14th, to express “our frustrations with Nigeria.”

    She insisted that Nigeria must be returned to the 1963 constitution for the country to survive.

    Secretary of ECA and founder of Igbo Youth Movement, Evangelist Elliot Ugochukwu-Uko described the constant invasion of Igboland with military hardware every September as provocative and insulting.

    His words: “every September military equipment is moved menacingly into Igbo land just to remind us that we are a conquered people. Next, they will say some students threw stones at them and mayhem will be unleashed on our people. There’s no war going on here, there are no killings going on here. Igbo land is peaceful, why the invasion.

    “The soldiers should be drafted to Sambisa forest, Borno LGA’s where killings are going on every day. They should go to Plateau, Benue etc and save hapless citizens who are slaughtered daily, while the government is either blaming Lybians or telling middle beltans to surrender their land to the Herdsmen to save their lives.

    “Bringing so called python dance 3 to our peaceful region now is only designed to deliberately provoke a confrontation that will lead to loss of lives as they did last year.”

    Ugochukwu-Uko announced that the emergency meeting therefore asked all Ndigbo who are aggrieved over this endless provocative and humiliating invasion called python dance 3, to stay indoors on Friday September 14th to send a message to the world that we angry over this constant humiliation.

    The meeting also resolved to send a message to the United Nations that Nigeria will die if the structure is not returned to the 1963 constitution.

    The meeting also agreed to organize a street march in October to drive home their demand for a new constitution, asserting that the rigid unitary constitution designed by the military is an evil document.

  • ‘Denying Igbo Presidency in 2023 will spell doom for Nigeria’

    The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide on Tuesday stated that any maneuvering aimed at denying Ndigbo the Presidency come 2023 will spell doom for the nation.

    This was part of the resolutions reached by the group during its meeting in Abakaliki where it deliberated on several issues affecting Ndigbo economically and politically in the country.

    Read Also:‘Biafra ‘ll work against Igbo Presidency’

    In a statement issued at the end of the meeting by the Secretary General, Okwu Nnabuike and Deputy National Public Relations Officer, Ado Osaka of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the group stressed that 2023 Igbo Presidency was not negotiable.

    It argued that handing over power to Ndigbo was for justice, equity and fairness to reign in Nigeria’s political arena.

    “The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide met today  in Abakiliki,  Ebonyi state being 28th August 2018 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 and any maneuvering may spell  doom to the unity of the Country, as the recent unjust appointments since 2015 by the Presidency resulted to the rise of Biafra agitation, and those seeking Igbos votes in 2019 across Nigeria where Igbo reside must consider handing power to Igbos 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 will restructure Nigeria.

    “Ohanaeze Youths frown at the report that some cabal in APC had perfected plans to return power to South West instead of South East immediately after President Buhari quits Power. We still insist that the Presidency should refute such negative plot or it will make Ndigbo to consider other political options before them in 2019″.

    “We are aware that irrespective of INEC officials denying Igbos their constitutional
    rights in some parts of Nigeria to collect their PVCs in 2015 outside Igbo land, our voting strength in South west is equal to that of the indigenes, even in the North. We have more than 12million registered Igbos in Northern Nigeria and 5million Igbos in south West”

    “OYC insists that APC had not fulfil their political promises to the people of South East, which includes the campaign promise of President Buhari to revamp Enugu Coal mine which had been politically closed for 45years now, irrespective of the Projects the Presidency insists they attracted to South East, but if APC continue to give priority to other zones more than South East, it may spell doom for them, APC need Ndigbo More than Ndigbo needs them.

    The group also congratulated the Governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu and the people of the state on the 27the anniversary of the creation of the state.

    “OYC congratulate the Governor and people of Abia state on their 27 anniversary since the creation of Abia in 1991 and insists that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu have what it takes to transform Abia state, we observed that since 1999, Abia state have been unfortunate in governance, but since 2015, even with distraction from opposition, Governor Ikpeazu had performed more than any Governor that had governed Abia since 1999, but salute the Abia indigenes courage to stand  behind Governor Ikpeazu and support his government.

    “The group also backed Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu’s single term proposal for Presidents and Governors.

    “We support the single tenure of 6 years for President and Governors proposed by Senator Ike Ekweremadu, we believe it help to unite Nigeria than divide us.”

  • Defection: Two S/East governors to join APC – Okorocha

    The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha Thursday disclosed that two serving governor’s from the Southeast will be formally joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Okorocha who did not disclose the identity of the governors, stated that there is an agreement among the Southeast governors to move in one direction.

    Read Also:Defections: God’ll chase away criminals from APC says Buhari

    According to him, “the insinuation that Southeast governors from other political parties will work for President Muhammadu Buhari for President and work for their candidates in the governorship election is not acceptable, you are either a member of the APC or not”.

    He continued that, “you will agree with me that Ndigbo played a dangerous politics in 2015 but we must correct that in 2019”.

  • IPOB disowns sit-at-home order, tells Ndigbo to ignore Chika Edoziem group

    Igbos across Nigeria and beyond havebeen called upon to ignore the May 30 sit-at-home order by a character purportedly acting on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB led by Mazi Chika Edoziem.

     

    The National Secretariat of IPOB in a statement on Tuesday distanced itself from the recent order asking Igbos not to go out on Tuesday in the interest of the symbolism of the 30th Remembrance of the defunct Biafra.

     

    According to them, the day represents an enduring epitaph that recalls many great feats, struggles and tribulations.

     

    Speaking on the development, however, Anayo Mbakwe, Director, Strategic Communication, IPOB National Secretariat, called on Igbos to disregard the order and go about their business on the said date.

     

     

    Mbakwe, affirmed that the statement emanating from the Mazi Chika Edoziem-led faction should be disregarded in its entirety, insisting that the order did not have the blessing of its supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu..

     

    He said, “We received with utter shock and amazement, the laughable buzzing news both in the traditional and social media,   signed and circulated by one Mazi Chika Edoziem, purportedly claiming to be Head, Directorate of State of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra  (IPOB).

     

    “The National Secretariat of IPOB  in Nigeria wish to state clearly and in unmistaken terms that the said press statement emanating from Mazi Chika  Edoziem  should be discountenanced and disregarded in its totality. We strongly condemn it, as dubious, treacherous, unacceptable, illegal and a mockery of the grandeur ideology of  our Supreme leader,  Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whose aspirations and target is to achieve a peaceful and rancor-free independent  Biafran state.

     

    “Please permit us to put it on record that our secession struggles are henceforth not anchored on coerciveness, violence, breach of public peace, deaths and such allied criminal acts.  Those conversant with the new inclination of our Leader, Mazi Kanu, would have known that we have adopted a persuasive and non-violent diction and approach to our separatism agitations.

     

    “Therefore, Mazi Chika Edoziem and his co-travellers are imposters and strangers in our midst who have always sabotaged and exploited the activities of IPOB for personal gains. The faction has  again  dubiously  usurped IPOB’s   platform to cause confusion, in order to  extort and dupe unsuspecting members of the public, especially Southeasterners’ in the pretension of Remembrance Day for Biafran  fallen heroes and Heroines of the Nigerian civil strife of 1967-70, by issuing the illegal sit-at-home order.

     

     

    “For the avoidance of doubt now and in the future, may we plead the understanding of Nigerians on these in-house betrayers.  We wish to document that any genuine and authentic press statement,   media or publicity engagement of the public from IPOB’s national secretariat on such a serious issue, which is duly authorized, with the stamp and seal of our Supreme Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu  is released to the public and signed by Mazi  Emma Powerful, IPOB’s media and publicity secretary.

     

    “The designation, office of Head, Directorate of State of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra as flaunted by Mazi Chika Edoziem in the said public statement does not exist in our organizational organogram. He is simply and plainly, a renegade, cheat, an impostor and a criminal who has prepared his armed hooligans’ and miscreants to violently invade the Southeast on May 30, 2018, to kill, maim, loot and abduct scores of our kith and kin in demand for ransom to enrich themselves.

     

    “The statement does not originate from us and it is a betrayal of the cause,  our Supreme leader, Mazi Nnamdi  Kanu has placed his life on the line these past years.  We cannot allow the glaring attempts by selfish and frenzied individuals in our midst to truncate or jeopardize the Biafran cause or derail IPOB’s focus in pursuing the interest of Igbo nation on the secession struggles.

     

    “We remember with much sadness that the same Mazi Edoziem’s faction  has  clandestinely and consistently  worked with the Federal Government  to sabotage, undermine  and truncate this noble agenda of IPOB. They were the conniving shadows with our “enemies” which led to the forceful invasion of Kanu’s village in order to scar and put permanent fear in the minds of even our diehard loyalists of the struggle.

     

    “All of us know what transpired thereafter and there is no room to allow these same antagonists humiliate our Supreme Leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu for the second time.  We completely reject any attempt by our enemies to re-enact that inglorious saga and we are prepared to fight it conclusively.  They are incompetent to either stab us on the back or ride on our backs to the inglorious fame they are seeking.

     

    “We therefore,   request security agents to immediately apprehend, interrogate and possibly arraign Mazi Chike Edoziem in court on charges of   imposition and acts of treason against the Nigerian state.

     

    “We urge all Ndigbo in the Southeast or domiciled anywhere in Nigeria to go about their normal activities tomorrow, May 30, 2018 without the fear of harassment or molestations. The sit-at-home order grounds   the economy of Igbo nation and does not in any way develop us a people.”

  • Ndigbo ‘should not boycott 2019 polls’

    The Southeast Political Summit (SEPS) has urged Ndigbo not to boycott the 2019 general election.

    It said this would enable them occupy the political space meant for them.

    The group’s leader, Mrs. Eberechukwu Anigbogu, told  a news conference in Enugu that the apathy, cultural surrender and political ignorance that ravaged Igbo land in the last 20 years had made Ndigbo spectators.

    She said: “We have decided that it is time to sensitise and mobilise our people to rise up and occupy our political space.

    “We are not a party. SEPS is not another political pressure group. It is rather a mass movement geared towards re-inventing political consciousness in Southeast.”

    According to her, there is a burden placed on SEPS members to chart a new course for Ndigbo.

    Anigbogu recalled that pristine Igbo society operated the best democracy the world ever knew, stressing that in those days, people gathered at town squares to deliberate.

    She noted that at such meeting, families, clans, age grades and elders picked the most trusted and virtuous to represent them.

  • ‘Ndigbo should listen to Obasanjo, Danjuma’

    NATIONAL Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Chief Raphs Okey Nwosu has said Igbo should listen to some elderstatesmen or perish.

    Nwosu said they are ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, ex-military President Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) and ex-Defence Chief T. Y Danjuma, who ‘’spoke out on how the country is drifting’.

    Nwosu, the convener of Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM) in the Southeast, urged Ndigbo to work with CNM to ease out this government.

    He spoke yesterday in Awka, at the zonal meeting of CNM,  accusing the APC government of perpetrating carnage and destroying property.

    According to him, the meeting was a call for Ndigbo to dump APC and collaborate with CNM, which is ‘the best alternative for their rescue from poverty, hunger, recklessness and ethnic cleansing’.

    He said: “Every Nigerian leader is embarrassed by the state of the nation, where people are attacked, killed, raped and displaced in their homes.

    “We can condemn, but most political leaders must advocate action against these senseless killings and seek how to design a democratic action plan to ensure we take care of this conundrum democratically, and say enough is enough.”

  • Don’t allow Amaechi to deceive you, Secondus urges Southeast

    National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus on Friday accused Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi of trying to deceive people of the south east zone with his call on them to vote President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and be rewarded with Presidency in 2023.

    Amaechi had at a convocation lecture of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka on Wednesday urged Ndigbo to join main stream politics by supporting the APC which he claimed remembered the south east more than the PDP that ruled the country for 16 years.

    But Secondus, while speaking in Afikpo town in Ebonyi state at a rally organised to honour Governor David Umahi, urged the people of the South East not to allow Mr Amechi to deceive them.

    He also accused the ruling APC of marginalizing Ndigbo and minority groups in the country.

    “We will not be deceived; nobody can pull the wood on our eyes any more. The best party for Ndigbo is PDP and that is where the future is. No one will deceive us. A minister went to University at Awka the other day talking about APC and the chances of Ndigbo, that’s another deceit and he cannot succeed.  We have been meted here with
    deceit and lies and nepotism”.

    “When we talk about how they have instituted nepotism, they will say it is a hate speech. Our people have been marginalized, our party was founded on the ground of National unity and that’s why nobody can lay claim on this party.

    “When you cannot include Ndigbo and the minority in your government and you expect such people to be happy. PDP will restore the dignity of Ndigbo and the minority in the country. PDP was in government for 16 years and it was all inclusive government. Even the opposition were appointed “, he said.

    He commended Governor Umahi for his development strides and unity of the party in the state.

    The National Chairman also promised that their will be no imposition of candidate by anybody in the party in next year’s election.

    In his remarks, Umahi said despite attempts to destabilize the PDP by the opposition, the party will remain strong and united.

    He expressed dismay that former Governor of the state, Chief Martin Elechi who he described as his grandfather was teaming up with the Minister of Science and Technology to wrestle power from him in 2019.

    “I came by the mighty hands of God. You know the irony of life? In 2007 when Dr. Onu who is the Minister of Science and Technology was contesting against the same Elechi, I was supporting Elechi and all my properties in the village; my country home, my filing station, my hotels were all burnt down. Dr. Onu’s supporters burnt them down because I was supporting Elechi. Today, two of them have teamed up against God’s own anointed,” he said.

    Read Also: APC accuses Wike of lying against Amaechi

  • Ndigbo in APC drum support for Ambode

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been endorsed a second term by Igbos living in  the state.

    The ‘Igbo Vision in All Progressives Congress (APC)’ has started mobilising to ensure victory for the governor in 2019, according to Lagos APC Publicity Secretary Mr. Joe Igbokwe.

    He said stakeholders have resolved to support the governor for a second term, because of his excellent performance.

    Igbokwe said outcome of the 2019 election would convince the ethnic group the APC is the most reliable  party.

    The Publicity Secretary said Ndigbo would vote for the governor in next year’s poll.

    He said: “In recognition of his hard work, we are going to come out in millions to support him once again through voting.

    “I know that the Igbo, under the aegis of Igbo Vision, supported Ambode to become governor in the face of victimisation. But they have not been recognised for their loyalty. Today, I want to assure you that our governor did not forget the Igbo; you will be rewarded at the appropriate time.”

    Igbokwe said although Ambode’s government does not share money, it has impacted positively on the lives of the people through its developmental projects.

    He added: “We have seen physical developments across Lagos and the ongoing transformation in Ladipo market is one of the numerous projects to make life better for Lagosians. We are pleased with this and we want it to continue.”

    The Vice President, Association of Ndieze Igbo in Diaspora Worldwide, Chief Uche Dimgba, said his group has commenced sensitisation of Igbos in Lagos. He said Igbos in the state have been enjoined to get their voters’ cards.

    Dimgba added: “We also encouraged those that have voters card to come out and vote for Ambode in recognition of his selfless service to the development of Lagos State. Lagos State is our home and this is where we have majority of our investments.”

     

  • 2019: Ndigbo will be one of the major beneficiaries of Buhari’s 2nd Term – VON DG

    The Director General of Voice of Nigeria, and member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Osita Okechukwu has reassured Ndigbo that they would be one of the major beneficiaries of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2nd Term in office.

    Okechukwu gave this assurance yesterday  while fielding questions bordering on Buhari’s second term vis a vis restructuring of the country  from reporters at his hometown, Eke, Udi LGA, Enugu State.

    There is raging debate whether Ndigbo should support President Buhari’s second term bid or push for restructuring.

    He said: “Restructuring is not a one day event, but the golden opportunity of Buhari being the only northerner, going by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the zoning convention, with only four years that ends in 2023 is a matter of fact. Voting for any other northerner, means postponement of the golden opportunity which Mr President reelection offers Ndigbo.

    “Restructuring is already in the cards of our great party, the APC. Definitely some items will be restructured before 2019 general elections, going by Malam Nasir Elrufai’s committee recommendations.

    “Secondly, Ndigbo stand to benefit immensely from the Buhari’s massive critical infrastructure – Roads,Rails,Agriculture and Power (RRAP) projects, first of its Kind in Nigeria. As one of the hard working and entrepreneurial people in Nigeria, we stand no doubt to gain from the RRAP – 5,000 kilometers of federal roads, 5,000 kilometers of standard gauge rail lines, agrarian revolution and additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity, with completion cycle of 3-5 years.”

    Asked how sure he is that Buhari will back an Igbo candidate to succeed him, Okechukwu posited: “It is not only about Buhari’s backing; albeit more about paradigm shift of voting pattern of Ndigbo, in 2019, which signposts realignment of political forces. Let’s the truth be told, my people since 1999 had religiously been voting for PDP, without commensurate result, common sense dictates paradigm shift in our voting pattern.

    “Buhari in 2003, and 2007 had Igbo sons as running mates – Rt. Hons. Chuba Okadigbo and Edwin Umezoke of blessed memory. Yet we failed to vote for him. To align with the mainstream, we should vote for him now. He subscribes to equity and justice and cannot jeopardise the chances of credible Igbo candidate who has the common sense to appeal to our brothers and sisters in other regions, especially the South West and South South.”

    Although President Buhari recently asked All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to give him more time to decide whether to seek re-election, Okechukwu said it is imperative that President Muhammadu Buhari should seek for second tenure, so as to complete the ongoing critical infrastructure foundation that he initiated in the country.

    “Don’t forget that the over $30 billion soft loans driving the critical infrastructure – Eurobond, China-Eximbank, ADB, JICA, US Eximbank etc, were predicated on the integrity quotient of Mr President. Trust is the key to Creditors.”

    Citing the accelerated pace of work on federal roads across the country , especially the 2nd Niger Bridge, Buhari’s plan to lay gas pipeline which will connect commercial towns in the east and the Eastern Corridor Railway, as carrots in the kitty. Okechukwu noted that in view of the above scenario, that it will be suicidal if the people of the South-East will vote for those who share money and miss the infrastructure revolution.”

    He urged the people of the South-East to use their tongue and count their teeth and decide whether to support Buhari who will take them to the next level or go back to Egypt, where they suffered for 16 years under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which not only neglected infrastructure in the South-East but never considered an Igbo man worthy to become president or vice president.

    Reiterating that Ndigbo must think strategically in 2019, Okechukwu urged Ndigbo to vote for Buhari in 2019 and then, harvest Igbo presidency in 2023.

    He warned that if Ndigbo decides to vote for another candidate from the North in 2019, then, the dream of Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023 would be prolonged sine dire.