The Southeast governors, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization -Ohanaeze Ndigbo- and other stakeholders from the zone have launched a new initiative to press for an Igbo president in 2023.
The initiative includes a solidarity march on December 27, 2020.
The stakeholders also plan to write letters to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the leaderships of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to support the South East in the quest for the presidency.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Chairman in diaspora, Chief, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze,told reporters yesterday in Awka, that Christian clerics from the orthodox and Pentecostal churches would be involved in the march.
It will take place simultaneously in the five South East states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
Anakwenze, who is also, Chairman, Igbo World Assembly (IWA) and leader of ASA -USA,said the geo-political zone has credible and educated persons to lead Nigeria in 2023
He said those to be considered to join the race include present and past governors and federal legislators.
He said all the South East wants are “democracy and freedom”.
“Our history in Nigeria clearly shows that Ndigbo have always stood for democracy and fair play for all.
“We do not believe or promote religious based politics and ideology. We want a Nigeria where the majority’s right is balanced with the minority’s right
“We want Nigeria where the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the future of the country.
“We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on the ability to work hard, where fairness reigns with a sense of direction and accountability to the various groups and for the common good of the country.”
He said it was only fair for the rest of the country to allow the South East take its turn in producing the president.
His words: “For the good of Nigeria, we believe our geo-political interest should extend to ethnic regions in Nigeria that aspire to its mission of uniting all Nigeria of like minds, through the concept of standing together for the betterment of the entire Nigeria.
“We believe in alignment. We cannot get presidency by ourselves, even if all the Igbo vote. We are already working with people from other zones and we are in talks with them already.
“Ndigbo and some other regions believe more in a restructured Nigeria. People can feel free to have their aspirations and you cannot stop it.
“There is need to restructure Nigeria to ensure true federalism based on regions or zones. We need Nigeria political structure that is based on equity, fair play, balance and equal access to political power for the good of all Nigerians.”