By Anya C. Anya
An Igbo social cultural organization Umu-Igbo Unity Forum Worldwide has called for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction come 2023 . This, the organization believe is one way to compensate them for the high level of injustice melted out to them since the Nation’s return to civilian rule.
This call is coming amidst several agitation among many quarters for the rulling All Progressive Congress APC to zone it’s presidential candidate to the south east as they are qualified hands capable of leading the country in the south east. Mazi Buchi Ogbonna the Secretary General of Umu-Igbo Unity Forum Worldwide while speaking unbehalf of the organization after the forum meeting on 5th September 2020 at the De Legend Hotel Owerri said the organization has membership and representative from across the five eastern state including Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Lagos State and Abuja the FCT.
In line with the theme of the last meeting “Political, Economic Progress And Unity Of The Igbo Ethnic Race” Mazi Buchi Ogbonna said the forum deliberated extensively on several burning national issues as it affects the political and economic prosperity of the Igbo ethnic race in Nigeria and the South East geo-political zone in particular.The Forum Delegates frowned at the political marginalization of the Igbo ethnic race of South East in Nigeria over the years by successive Federal Government administration in respect to political appointment into key positions at the Federal level, the economic neglect and exclusion of the South East geo-political region by past and present Federal Government administration in the allocation and distribution of critical infrastructural developmental projects and the abandonment and non funding of several ongoing Federal Government developmental projects in the South East region.”
The Forum also frowned at the deplorable condition of several Federal roads in the South East which has turned to death trap and called on the Federal Government to expedite action and repair these decapitated roads urgently to forestall further loss of lives on these roads due to accident. Also the forum deliberated extensively on the worsening poor security situation in the South East region and other parts of Nigeria and condemned the frequent killings and loss of human lives across the country due to terrorism, armed robbery, kidnapping, the activities of bandits and herdsmen and called on the Federal Government to stem the tide by overhauling the security architecture of the country.
Concerning the next General Election in 2023 and on what is appropriate to be done , the forum unanimously resolved that the Igbos of South East geo-political zone is an integral part and parcel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and have contributed immensely to the political and economic progress and prosperity of Nigeria and therefore equity and fairness demands they should produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023 while other geo-political zones of the country should support the idea to make it a reality to balance the political equation and give the Igbos a sense of belonging in Nigeria.
The President of the organization Chief Dr. Godwin Chinedu Duru appeal to all Igbo Sons and daughters all over the world to register and join the Forum as the benefits of being a registered member of the Forum is quite enormous and numerous.The Forum also counsel President Muhammadu Buhari to consider restructuring the nation to allow different federating units, zones or states of the country to be self sustaining and use their God given natural resources to develop their states or zones as the case maybe.
