Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, explained why the Igbos supported Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate, in the recent election.
In an interview with Punch paper, he emphasized that the Igbos believed it was their rightful turn to produce the next President in 2023, following a long wait since 1979. He claimed that the Igbo community had consistently supported Presidents from the South but had been overlooked for key positions.
Chief Iwuanyanwu cited instances such as General Ibrahim Babaginda’s transfer of power to Moshood Abiola, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency, the late Umaru Yar’Adua’s tenure, and the South-South representation through Goodluck Jonathan and Yemi Osinbajo.
Consequently, when the Presidency was zoned to the South, the Igbos felt it was their time to take the helm. In his words, “Since 1979, the Igbos have been denied top positions, which continued until General Ibrahim Babaginda transferred power after Moshood Abiola’s victory in the Presidential election was unjustly denied.
Abiola was a close friend of mine and I supported him, but even when he didn’t succeed, Ernest Shonekan was appointed as the head of the Interim National Government.”
Businessadvocate (
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