By Uche Mbah
The 2023 presidential elections campaign appears to have kicked off in top gear as the North and South-west gear up for the top job. The North, particularly the North West, appear to have started serious consultations towards the elections. But it appears the North east is not as keen as the west, just as little has been heard of the activities of the South east towards the presidency come 2023.
North east is the home zone of Atiku Abubakar, the Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP
Already the bid is threatening to tear the South west apart, with the Vice president coming under attack due to his perceived presidential ambition by the ruling elites, which power brokers are concentrated in the North West.
This magazine has reported that about three governors from the North east have their eyes on the pie, and three ex governors and a sitting governor from the south west.
Recently, campaign posters of Kaduna state governors, Nasir el Rufai, and former governor Bola Tinubu are seen in Lagos and Abuja. Tinubu is said to be planning a subtle launch of his political campaign on 1st October. But there has not been any voice from the South east, apart from lone voices from the North and Ohaneze Ndigbo saying it is the turn of the Igbos.
The Silence appears deafening. But not anymore.
Ohaneze youths Worldwide has declared that they will do anything it takes to pursue an Igbo presidency come 2023. In a communique issued on Sunday, signed by Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, President General of the group and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, Secretary General, the group stated that they will raise money at the end of 2022 to support any person chosen by the group to contest.
“We urge all Igbo presidential aspirants to start to activate their contacts towards building bridges across six geopolitical zones of Nigeria”, the communiqué said. According to them, the push was based on equity and fairness.
“Based on justice, equity and fairness, the 2023 presidency project of Igbo stock had kicked off in Enyimba city with a national committee set up to reach out to other prominent leaders/stakeholders and youth leaders from the six geopolitical zones. Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council in the diaspora had promised to raise huge funds running into millions of dollars by end of 2022 to support whoever the youths nominate among the current southeast governors or former governors as Igbo presidential candidate ahead of 2023 presidential election.”
