2023 Presidency: Igbos Reject Vice-Presidential Slot

The Igbo speaking people in Nigeria have said no to the offer of taking the vice-presidential slot, as the 2023 general elections draw near.

Naija News reports that the Southeastern region of the nation is agitating for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction, but the possibility of making this happen has become a big puzzle as major political parties are yet to conclude on zoning.

Stressing the need to consider an Igbo man as the next leader for the nation, First Republic Aviation Minister, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi who spoke last weekend in an interview with Daily Post, said Nigeria may go separate ways after 2023 should the North retains the Presidency.

Amaechi urged the two leading political parties, the All Progressive Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to bury the idea of fielding candidates from the north.

Naija News understands that stakeholders and pressure groups from the southeast have on several occasions urged Nigerians to allow the Igbo speaking tribe to produce the country’s next president.

The former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chuks Ibegbu, had in an interview recently, urged those eyeing the seat of power from the North to shelve their interest and support the Igbos in their quest to produce a Nigerian president in 2023.

Ibegbu admonished the likes of Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, Yahaya Bello, Bala Mohammed, Bukola Saraki to all drop their ambitions and support the Igbos for 2023.

Ibegbu insists that the Igbos are for the presidency and not ready to take the vice-presidential slot. He stressed that it’s either the presidency or nothing for the Igbos in 2023.

He said: “No way, it’s presidency or nothing. We are not second class citizens in Nigeria and will never be. We would rather watch Nigeria unfold an unjust political higgery pokkery than accept vice president. Are we only good for VP or what?

“What is wrong if we become president? Look, if nobody in Igbo land is ready to battle for president till the end, I chuks Ibegbu will come out and I will win. After all, I am better than most people that have been at Aso Rock since 1999.”

Naija News understands that the Deputy President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dimm Uche Okwukwu had also earlier said that the Igbos will not be happy if the slot of the Vice President is zoned to them.

Okwukwu said: “If you want the presidency, you must prepare for it, be diplomatic and negotiate for it. I support a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, it can come from any part of Igbo land.

“They would be happier and feel more dignified if they are allowed to produce the president instead of the vice president.

“You will agree with me that they produced the vice president in the person of Alex Ekwueme in 1979, which is 43 years ago, so why would they be going to the same class they have already passed? I think it’s not signifying. The Igbos will be sad, they will not be happy.”