IGBO PEOPLE: The earlier you embrace Buhari’s administration,the better for you― Ozobu

Prince Richard Ozobu, Chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said that the Igbo must put efforts to revive the alliance it had with the North during the first and second republics in Nigeria if it is committed to achieving Igbo presidency in 2023.

Ozobu, in an interview on July 7 stated that the Igbo had been relegated in Nigerian politics because it abandoned its traditional political allies, stressing that no zone, no matter the size of the population, ‘can do it alone’ in attaining the presidential position in Nigeria.

He admonished Igbo leaders to re-examine the political history of the area and ascertain where it missed the ‘route’ and chart ways to make amends.

Hear him: “The Igbo must re-examine themselves and our political history and where we lost it.

” If we re-examine ourselves, we will discover that we lost our traditional allies in the politics of Nigeria.

“The North had been our allies in the first and second republics which were clearly the glorious days of the Igbo in the politics of Nigeria.

The North had been our allies in the first and second republics which were clearly the glorious days of the Igbo in the politics of Nigeria.

We must make efforts to revive our alliance with the North because no zone, no matter its population, can make it alone to the presidency. We are asking for the presidency in 2023, how can we get it?

Is it by just mouthing it? We must reach out and build bridges of friendship and understanding across Nigeria.

“In seven years after the war; an Igbo, Dr Alex Ekwueme, emerged vice president of Nigeria. Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke also emerged Speaker of the House Representatives

This was something we celebrated because it was not easy to achieve it, but it was made possible with our alliance with the North. It was also a demonstration of the no victor, no vanquished stand of the then Gowon led federal government.

“There is no doubt that the Igbo fared better when we aligned with our traditional allies in the North. Under the alignment, we had the Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Chief Edwin Umu-Ezeoke as Speaker and other positions.

“You can see what the Igbo lost when we abandoned our traditional allies. We must change our psyche; some of the issues about the Igbo marginalization are media creations. We talk about Igbo presidency; nobody will award it to you, it must be through negotiation and alliance.

Ozobu insisted that contrary to widely held beliefs among the Igbo, the Buhari administration does not hate the Igbo and has done much for the Igbo.

He urged Igbo not to alienate themselves from the Buhari administration, but should rather partner with Buhari to attract more development to the area.