A non-political intellectual think-tank, Millennium Centre for Training and Leadership (MCTL), has named the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu; former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, as having the requisite personalities to be the first Igbo executive President.
The group said they could win the presidential ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement yesterday by its President, Prince Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, MCTL argued that zoning the presidency to the Southeast would foster a sense of belonging in the region as well as end alleged political marginalisation.
The statement reads: “It will also help to douse national tension and mitigate the tide of separatism that has engulfed the region for some years now, in keeping with the ideals of inclusion, fair play, and justice in order to foster national cohesion and a more perfect union.”
MCTL added: “In the APC, Dr. Onu, amongst others in the party, stands distinctly tall among his peers and he has enduring character, temperament and national acceptance to make a good candidate for APC and subsequently President.
“We urge all the other political parties, like the PDP, to field Igbo candidates, like Mr Peter Obi or Prof. Soludo, to realise the national ethos of unity base on justice and equity.”
Also, an Igbo group, Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), has blamed continued marginalisation and dehumanisation of the Igbo as the reason for the persistent demand for the restoration of Biafra.
In a statement by the Chairman of its Publicity Bureau, Chief Abia Onyike, ADF said it was dangerous for anyone or government to continue to exclude the people of the Southeast from the political equation of Nigeria and expect the people to be happy.
The statement reads: “ADF believes that the root causes of these curious predictions are the marginalisation/dehumanisation of Ndigbo, the serial killings/systematic programme of occupation of Alaigbo and their total exclusion from the political equation in Nigeria (ranging from the Executive to the Legislature, Judiciary, bureaucracy, parastatals to all spheres of political and economic life of the state.
“Given this type of most unusual state of affairs, the longing for Igbo redemption becomes more and more acute and a most welcome idea to all strata of the Igbo society. Thus, the dreams of Igbo emancipation, independence and freedom are bound to be arresting to the youths and pauperised population of Alaigbo.”
