By Cajetan Mmuta
A Socio-Cultural group, Igbos for Progressive And United Nationhood (IPAN) on Thursday advised the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, to resist the temptation of blackmailing presidential hopefuls from other regions who have declared interest to contest for the office of the President.
IPAN in a statement stated that even though it strongly believes that 2023 is the perfect time for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction to emerge, it does not believe in arm twisting Nigerians to make an Igbo man President or telling other aspirants from outside Igbo land to drop their presidential ambitions.
The National President of IPAN, Comrade Lawrence Onuzulike stated that every Nigerian who meets the constitutional requirements to contest for the office of the President is eligible to do so regardless of the region he or she comes from, stressing therefore that no one should blackmail anybody from throwing his hat into the ring.
Onuzulike said, “Ohaneze as a pan-Igbo group should be at the forefront of rallying support for Igbo aspirants in their various political parties like IPAN is undertaking instead of advising or begging interested aspirants from other regions not to contest.”
“I am aware that since 1999, an Igbo man has always contested in Nigeria’s presidential election even when some political parties zoned their presidential ticket to other zones. All we should be doing is simply to appeal to Nigerians both political elites and the masses to support Igbo candidates this time around for the sake of equity and fairness.”
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IPAN also welcomed the declaration of interest by former Anambra State governor, Mr. Peter Obi to contest for President in the event that his party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) zones the ticket to the South.
It described Mr. Peter Obi as someone who has the capacity to garner the support of millions of Nigerians in his presidential bid just like other Igbos who have declared their presidential ambitions.
The group noted that Mr. Peter Obi left room for doubt when he hinged his presidential ambition on the zoning arrangement in his party.
It expressed belief that if the PDP must zone their presidential ticket, they should zone it to the South or specifically to the South East as we believe it’s time for a President from the South East.
