By Cajethan Duke, Editor At Large.
Nigeria’s two leading political parties, the governing All Progressive Congress, APC and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have been advised to concede their presidential tickets to the South East in 2023.
A political study and sensitization group based in Owerri, the Imo Awareness Coalition, IAC which gave the advise in a statement, kicked against comments credited to some leaders of the North who said the Presidency should remain in the Northern region for as much as 100 years.
In a statement signed by Desmond Uchendu, Publicity Secretary of the Forum, It said the two big political parties in the country should concede or zone their presidential tickets to the South East in 2023 in the spirit of fairness, balance and equity.
“The APC, and the PDP are the two major political parties in the country.Both political parties have been supported by the South East at one time or the other and do have great sons and daughters of the region as its members and chieftains.
“This is the sure way to give the South East a true sense of belonging and a deserved opportunity to produce a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023
The IAC said “It is strange and unacceptable statements credited to some Northern leaders who want the North to hold on to power after the expiration of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023.
“While we do believe that these statements are not the official position of progressive minded Northerners who have always seen the South East as perennial political allies, we say it is unimaginable and unbelievable, that some elements in the North could contemplate making comments at variance with the political mood of the nation which clearly suggests that it is the turn of the South East to produce President Buhari’s successor in 2023
“The South East had supported the North to produce Northerners as Presidents of the country, Late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and President Muhammadu Buhari and were actively involved in the election of a President from the South West, Olusegun Obasanjo and a President from the South- South, Good luck Jonathan.
“We now wonder why some people in the North are afraid of an Igbo taking over the Nigerian Presidency in 2023.
“The leading political parties are best suited and well placed to provide the platform for the South East to produce the next President of the country in 2023
“We believe they will not bow to to such misplaced statements aimed at denying the South East the right to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023
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