In another development, a UK-based group, Nigerians in Diaspora Elders, has congratulated the Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Middlebelt Forum, Tiv Nation, Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and others for unequivocally insisting that the Igbos should produce the next president of Nigeria.
It will be recalled that in a recent press-meet, the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, categorically declared:
Our position is that the presidency should go to the South in 2023. In fact, we have said that all political parties should zone their presidential ticket to the South. That remains our position.
Reiterating this in finer detail, the Secretary-General of Afenifere, Chief Shola Ebideni’s representative, Chief Ayo Adebanjo (leader of the Yoruba Nation Self-determination group), succinctly put that:
Southern presidency is a means to an end. It is not something to celebrate because even if we have a southern president, you cannot have one more powerful than Obasanjo and nothing is being done. The fundamental thing is restructuring. But in the meantime, let those who have not tasted it, let them have it… So, our position is that towards 2023, let our leaders be realistic enough to ensure that the Nigerian state is restructured. The 1999 constitution is dangerously skewed against the Igbo man.
For a fact, the Afenifere position on this issue is a shared sentiment with the PANDEF who through their National Publicity Secretary, Kenneth Robinson, asserted:
For PANDEF, we stand for power shift to Southern Nigeria. Igbo people deserve the presidency of Nigeria.
The spokesperson of the UK Elders noted that this extension of friendship by the Yorubas has long been expected and it has pleased God that at this time, it is coming through the foremost Pan-Yoruba group which has consistently, defended the rights of the Yoruba and other ethnic minorities in Nigeria. Special kudos also go to PANDEF, Middlebet Forum, Tiv Nation, and others for stretching towards political justice for the Igbos without ethnocentric drawbacks.
It is therefore against this backdrop that the diasporean elders recommend the Chief Whip of the Federation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to Afenifere, PANDEF, Middlebelt Forum, Tiv Nation, and other groups for endorsement on the basis that he is internationalist, a businessman, a philanthropist, and a bridge-builder amongst others.
Idris Mohammed
Spokesperson