By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
A faction of the Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has warned the north that if it continues to push for a northern president in 2023, it may join the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) to demand Biafra.
Secretary-General of the group, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the Northern governors are being selfish with their clamouring for Northern Presidency in 2023.
The factional apex Igbo group says attempts by the north to jettison the rotational presidency in 2023, could only weaken Nigeria and fuel secessionist agitation for Oduduwa and Biafra nations.
The North had said it would retain the presidency after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight years rule, a radical deviation from the traditional South and North rotation of the presidency.
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In 1999, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from the South ruled for eight years. He was succeeded by Umaru Musa Yar’Adua from the North. But death cut short his tenure after almost three years, leaving his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan to complete the remaining one year.
Jonathan, who is from the South, contested in 2011 and won, and sought re-election in 2015, but lost to a northerner, Buhari.
The South believes that by the tradition of a rotational presidency which has always been the case since 1999, Buhari should be replaced by somebody from the South. But the North, through its governors, has rejected that arrangement.
But Isiguzo warned that the decision by the northern governors to retain power after 2023 would come with dire consequences for the unity of Nigeria.
He said: “Northern Governors’ miscalculation on 2023 and meandering on blind excitements of opposing the position of southern Governors’ standpoints has put the Northern Governors as exponents of Nigeria’s breakup.
“If another Northerner succeeds President Buhari in 2023, he/she might not be able to superintend over the affairs of the country as Nigeria might face brutal challenges from secessionist groups with full backing from ethnic groups as a result of a revolt against the injustice in the South and excesses of the North.
“Ndigbo may join with IPOB, to declare for Biafra restoration in the event of any conspiracy against the 2023 Igbo Presidency.
“Northern Governors should apologise to Nigerians for these subversive and provocative responses to 2023 Southern Presidency or face the consequences of being unable to read the mood of the nation which favours a southern presidency from the Igbo bloc.”
