By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
Lecturers in tertiary institutions on the platform of Academic Frontier Initiative (AFI), have declared support for Igbo presidency, come 2023.
They disclosed their intention iIn a statement signed by the National Coordinator, Dr. Chinedu Onyeizugbe; National Secretary, Dr. Tochukwu Oguegbe; and Prof. Robert Dode, the national publicity secretary.
The group stated that it had become desideratum and expedient for political parties to zone their presidential ticket to the South East in the spirit of equity and fairness.
According to the group, no person from the South East has ever held sway to the highly coveted position since 1999 and it’s high time Igbo produced a president in Nigeria.
The statement reads: “The South East region has many qualified and eminent personalities who can steer the leadership of the country without any form of marginalisation.
“As academic group involving lecturers from all over Nigeria, we are ready to meet with every stakeholder in the six geopolitical zones in the country. We want every political party to zone its flagship to anyone they deemed fit in the South East”.
The group, therefore, called on all political parties and Nigerians to support as president, a person of Igbo extraction, remarking that it would address the economic and security challenges facing Nigeria.
Recall that recently, the Anambra State former Governor, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, ex-Minister of Women Affairs, Josephine Anenih; ex-representative of Anambra Central in the Senate, Ben Obi; National Chairman, African Democratic Congress, Ralph Nwosu; and National Consultative Front (NCFront) Chief, Tanko Yinusa, have all joined the clamour for a President of Igbo extraction in 2023.
The quintet, who spoke at the unveiling of ‘‘Global Movement for Igbo President 2023’’ in Awka, said that the South East deserved to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor since no one from the zone has occupied the position since 1999.
They further urged more Nigerians to support the clamour in the spirit of justice, equity, peace, unity and fairness, while warning Ndigbo not to work against their own interest.
Academic Frontier Initiative is a non-partisan group, made up of tertiary institutions lecturers across Nigeria.