The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has praised former military heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Yakubu Gowon, for their public expression of support for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.
Former military president Babangida had told The Interview in Minna, the Niger State capital that he would vote for an Igbo candidate as president in 2019 if he finds one while Gowon had openly canvassed for an Igbo president in the nearest future.
The National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth wing, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, on Tuesday described the two elder statesmen as the conscience of the nation, stressing that their support for Igbo Presidency had given Ndigbo hope that they would find greater accommodation within a united Nigeria.
According to Isiguzoro, an Igbo presidency would finally heal the scars left by the unfortunate civil war and the marginalization of Ndigbo in the affairs of the nation.
“Ohanaeze youths commended the two former military heads of state for their love for the unity of Nigeria through their support for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction.
“A Nigerian President of Igbo extraction is desirable in 2019 after President Muhammadu Buhari. An Igbo presidency will boost the unity of Nigeria. Former President Ibrahim Babangida said he will back an Igbo if he finds one; but we assured him and other Nigerians that Ndigbo have credible personalities who have the capacity to govern Nigeria”, he said.
The Ohanaeze youth leader also called on political parties in the country to zone their presidential tickets to the South East and called on Ndigbo to support the administration of President Buhari.
“If we can get Senator Ike Ekeremadu as a PDP presidential candidate and Rochas Okorcocha as the APC presidential candidate in 2019, it will end the cries of marginalization including protests by Biafra agitators”, Isiguzoro added.
