Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council, OYC, the apex Igbo socio-cultural youth organization, has stated that the Igbo nation’s quest to occupy the Nigeria presidential seat in 2023 is non-negotiable.
The Igbo group said while it is pushing fiercely for devolution of power to the geopolitical regions and resource control, it would continue to keep its eyes on 2023 presidency for the interest of the country.
OYC, in a press statement jointly signed by it’s President, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Secretary-General, Okwu Nnabuike, and made available to newsmen, on Thursday, warned political office holders of Igbo extraction against accepting vice-presidential slot from any political parties, regretted that the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, had played enough on the intelligence of the people of Igbo nation, which it posited, has developmental backwardness to the South East region.
Ohanaeze, however, vowed to jettison supports to any political parties that tramples on equity and as well, opt for a northern candidate ahead of 2023 presidential poll.
OYC’s statement partly read, “the Ohanaeze is irrevocably committed to the advancement of the Igbo nation in the struggle to protect and promote the livelihood of the average Igbo man. OYC will continue to speak with courage and act with wisdom.
“OYC is committed to the idea that the Igbo man would thrive best in a restructured Federal Republic of Nigeria. What the Igbo man seeks is not a helping hand, the Igbo man demands a level playing field. The Igbo nation has invested resources in Nigeria. The Igbo nation wants a sense of belonging from Nigeria, and as well, share a sense of belonging with the Fulani and the Yoruba ethnic nationalities.
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“While watching the events leading up to 2023, Ohanaeze youths have observed some troubling developments. Igbos have voted massively for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, since 1999, but it appears that the PDP regards the Igbos as cows that must be milked, used to death. The PDP is making subterranean and diabolical plans to retain power in the north in 2023.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youths Council, (OYC), worldwide, wish to make it abundantly clear that, the People Democratic Party,(PDP), must not insult the intelligence of the Igbos. If the PDP thinks the Igbo will wait till 2031 before it gets a chance at the presidential ticket of the party, then the PDP isn’t just treacherous, it is delusional.
“The youths of Igbo land will not sit astride and watch the PDP field a candidate from the north and come to Igbo land to hoodwink people with sweetened gibberish. If the PDP tramples on equity and common sense, and opts for a northern candidate in 2023, then, the PDP should forget about coming to Igbo land to seek votes in the 2023 presidential elections.
“Ohanaeze Youth Council, OYC, worldwide, has advice for Igbo politicians. The Council has noticed some of them running around like castrated squirrels. Do not accept a vice-presidential ticket from anybody. No Igbo politician should accept a vice-presidential ticket from any party. Any Igbo man or woman who grovels to a vice-presidential ticket should consider political and social distancing from Igbo land”.
