.Predicts chaos if North retains power after Buhari
By Ummi Ismaeel,
Minna
The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and former Commissioner for Information in Niger State, Mr. Jonathan Vatsa, has called for the support of the Igbo to produce Nigeria’s next president after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
He also expressed carpeted some politicians from the Northern Nigeria, who want to jettison the rotational Presidency between the North and South for ‘‘meritocracy’’.
The APC chieftain however pointed out that the Igbo deserved the right to lead Nigeria not as a privilege but by right as equal stakeholder in the Nigerian business.
Vatsa spoke to journalists in Minna, Niger State.
His words: “Igbo Presidency is a right and not a privilege, hence the South-East geopolitical zone must be allowed to produce the next President in 2023. Without this the next level socio-economic and political emancipation cannot be actualized”.
Vatsa also advised Ndigbo to ignore the voices from the Arewa group clamouring for the continued holding unto power, stressing, “Be prepared to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 as majority of the north will support the Igbo.”
The former commissioner appealed to Nigerians, Christians, and Muslims to support a Nigerian President of South-East extraction in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness to all.
“Nigerians are people with conscience and would ordinarily know that every region deserved equal stake in the making of Nigeria of our dream.
“Equity and justice demand that the Igbo should be allowed to produce the next President come 2023.
“I am quite convinced that the Igbo have already made their consultations from their northern and southern patriots and majority of them are in support of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction or South-Eastern President,” Vatsa said.
He enumerated some salient qualities of an average Igbo man which cannot be taken away from them, stressing, “Ndigbo are highly detribalised and could be found in the remotest villages in Nigeria, living peacefully and doing their businesses and paying their taxes”.
While condemning agitations by Arewa group for power to remain in the north beyond 2023, Vatsa reminded all stakeholders that south-easterners are part and parcel of Nigeria and as such should be given chance to govern Nigeria.
“Many of the Arewa voices have been speaking that power should remain in the north as if it is their birth right. Nigeria belongs to all of us and it is bigger than what we think it is. In the spirit of fairness and if we really want to remain together, the Igbo should be given a chance in 2023”.
Vatsa who however urged the Igbo to speak with one voice if they are ready to win the next election said, “Apart from Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe and Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi, we have never had an Igbo President, so I am calling on the Igbo to rise up and take what is due to them. We in the north are ready to support you.
“I am calling on the Igbo to speak with one voice if they must win in 2023. They must come together and forget their differences”, warning however that the Igbo must be careful about those who will go and collect money either from the north or South West to sell their conscience. Vatsa, an acclaimed ‘Apostle of Change and Priest of Freedom’ said, “Enough should be seen as enough. The Igbo should no longer be treated as second citizens in Nigeria,” warning that continued holding unto power by the north in over 59 years of nationhood would only bring about chaos instead of unity among Nigerians.
