Igbo Youths Assembly (IYA) has said the that the socio-economic challenges in Nigeria may remain unabated if the people from the north continue to hold on to power more than any other region/
The group also supported the appeal by the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, for power to shift to the Igbo in 2019.
It however suggested a gradual transition of power from the ‘too old to govern’ to encouraging talented youthful politicians to work side-by-side elected leaders in all the three tiers of government to enable them learn the art.
The group’s President , Mazi Benard Ifeanyi Egwim Nwaudunna, in an interview in Minna, Niger State capital said that the support for a President from the Igbo extraction in 2019 would end injustices against the Igbo man since independence.
The group’s president said, “Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960, the north alone has produced more than 50 percent of all the presidents Nigeria had in the past. Where is justice, fairness and equity we are all talking about as equal stakeholder in the Nigerian business?”
Nwaudunna spoke after a meeting of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, which held at Doko Hotels, Minna, Niger State capital.
He said, ‘‘of all the administrations, none has been able to answer the Igbo man’s question on fairness, justice and equity.”
He disclosed that they came from Enugu to fraternize with the Igbo people in northern when they met in Minna and to try in providing answers to the Igbo man question about Nigeria’s continued existence as an indivisible entity.
He pointed out, ‘‘Obasanjo saw the need for the Igbo to be given a chance to produce the next President in 2019 and therefore should be listened to.
“We are not just asking for rotational Presidency but for the President in 2019 to be an Igbo man because from independence, the north has produced more Presidents than any other group and this is against fairness, justice and equity for all we are talking about.”
Besides, the group disassociated itself from those clamouring for dismemberment of Nigeria, including the Indegenous People of Biafra (IPOB), noting that nothing is wrong with Nigeria as currently structured if there is equity, justice and fairness to all.
“I have every reason to believe that a President of Igbo extraction in 2019 will end agitations, correct administrative inbalances and as well douse tensions generated by the continued holding unto power by a particular segment against the over 250 other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria”.
The Igbo Youths president said that the north has had fair share of power from the late President Umar Yar’Adua (May his soul rest in Peace) now, Buhari, so power should go back to the south, Igbo man in particular after the two have spent four years each, consecutively eight years.
His words: “Yar’Adua; may his soul rest in peace, spent roughly four years though couldn’t complete it. Buhari came in and will be completing his first tenure in 2019, so should hand over to an Igbo man, anything less of that means the Hausa man will continue in office beyond eight years”.
Meanwhile, IYA has reiterated support for a government that will allow youthful Nigerians to work side-by-side elderly politicians to enable them learn the ropes ahead of their taking over power from the aged in line with global best practices.
(nigerianewsflight.com)
