BY KELECHI ONWUDIWE
Baring last minute changes, a former Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from Imo State looks good to ascend the presidency of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo.
The incumbent President, John Nnia Nwodo, is due to leave on January 9, 2020 which marks the end of his tenure.
There have been high level consultations across Igboland on the choice of Mr. Nwodo’s successor.
One of the South East Governors is pushing the ex Minister and is working in tandem with his counterparts and stakeholders in the region to ensure the smooth sail of the former Minister as the new Igbo leader.
Top Igbo leaders who had converged at the 90th birthday celebration of foremost nationalist, Mbazuluike Amechi, in Owerri, had kept mute on the matter.
Former Nigeria’s President, Olusegun Obasanjo was also at the ceremony.
Imo State has been penciled down to produce Nwodo’s successor at a time the Igbo nation is at cross roads over her political future as politics of 2023 unfolds.
Nwodo at the country home of Governor Emeka Ihedioha in Mbutu, Aboh Mbaise, had extolled former President Olusegun Obasanjo for being apolitical, and for backing the call for an Igbo to produce Nigeria’s next President.
The South East region is faced with enormous challenges – economic, social and political- coupled with the rise of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, a group enjoying mass fellowship in Igboland and beyond and strongly agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra.
A source who squealed to this newspaper events shaping the choice of a new Ohaneze leader said “ the former Minister is in his late 70s, a consumate politician, an administrator, a former Minister of the Federal Republic and more importantly a firm believer in the unity of the nation.
Since news of Nwodo’s exit as Ohaneze President emerged and Imo State listed to produce his successor, no one from the State has officially indicated interest.