Ralph Uwazuruike said, “I don’t believe in the idea of zoning or Igbo president because zoning means sectionalism. If we want to talk about Nigeria, we must throw the presidential contest open but if you throw it open, it must be for the youths especially one that has demonstrated uncommon capacity, in the person of Yahaya Bello.”
By Emma Ogbuehi
The Igbo quisling, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, leader of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), who led so many impressionable Igbo youths to their early graves in the name of agitating for Biafra, turned full circle on Saturday when he publicly disclaimed the project.
Ralph Uwazuruike who led Ndigbo to boycott the 2006 Census, thereby drastically reducing the population of the Southeast region now says even the idea of a Nigerian President of Southeast extraction is antithetical to national unity and should be discarded.
Because the idea of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction is now an anathema to him, Ralph Uwazuruike said the 2023 presidential contest should be thrown open to all Nigerians.
And to show his level of revulsion at the project that many well-meaning Nigerians affirm will enthrone equity, fairness and justice, he led some Southeast youths in a solidarity march in Owerri, Imo State capital, in support of the 2023 presidential bid of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.
The MASSOB leader bared his mind on his newfound love for Nigeria’s unity when Bello, a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), visited him in Owerri.
The youths, who started the procession from Ralph Uwazuruike’s house in Owerri, marched through the streets, carrying different placards, with inscriptions such as “Power to the Youths, Support Yahaya Bello”, “Youths Can Also Lead”, and “Yahaya Bello for the Youths”, among others.
They made it clear that the only solution to Nigeria’s political quagmire was for power to go to the youths.
According to them, in this regard, Bello is the right man for the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Recall that Bello picked the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination forms at the party’s national secretariat on Wednesday.
Uwazuruike, who advised Nigerians and party leaders to shun zoning, as it had no place in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, said his group would support Bello to become the next president of Nigeria because he had the leadership qualities to lead Nigeria effectively.
He noted that power should go to the best in the race, adding that the Kogi governor remained the best for the job.
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“All Nigerians should rally around the youthful governor. We are supporting Bello for this and no one else. That he has the capacity to solve the problem of insecurity and a host of others facing the nation is not in doubt,” Ralph Uwazuruike said.
“This is a crucial time in the history of the country. We must give youths a chance, especially one that has demonstrated uncommon capacity, in the person of Yahaya Bello.”
Ralph Uwazuruike, who is also the founder of the Biafran Independent Movement (BIM), said Nigeria’s sovereignty must be upheld, and the idea of an Igbo president should be discarded.
He said: “I don’t believe in the idea of zoning or Igbo president because zoning means sectionalism.
“If we want to talk about Nigeria, we must throw the presidential contest open but if you throw it open, it must be for the youths, not elders, because the elders have failed us.”
Ralph Uwazuruike said his group will support Bello to become the next president of Nigerian because he is a youth with the leadership qualities to deliver the Nigeria project.
“The youths must be given power, the elders have continued to be in power without great result.”
He urged Nigerians to support Bello, describing zoning and the Igbo presidency as a project aimed at promoting sectionalism.
Speaking, Bello expressed gratitude over the reception given to him by no fewer than 5,000 members of MASSOB/BIM who welcomed him in Imo.
Bello said he was prepared to deliver the Nigerian project if given the opportunity to serve as the next president of the country.
“I’m prepared to lead this country, I shall address insecurity, health system as well as the educational system.
“Nigerians must be very careful and be ready to make the best decision in choosing their next president,” he said.