Ohanaeze Seeks Sanusi’s Support on Zoning

Ahead of the 2023 presidential race and following calls for the shifting of power from the North, the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo World Wide has called on Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to support its quest of producing the President from Igbo.

The call was made on Sunday by the Acting National Youth Wing leader of the group, Onwuasoanya Jones, in his reaction to a statement credited to Lamido who had said zoning the presidential ticket to a particular region would birth “two useless presidential candidates.”

The apex Igbo social, cultural group expressed disappointment at Lamido’s comment, saying it came wrong. It has been clearly and fairly acceptable that the South East region should produce the next President in the country.

The group noted that as a country with diverse nationalities, she should be sensitive to the call for power rotation and power balancing.

According to the Igbo group, “A former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria and former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is quoted to have faulted the idea of zoning presidential tickets to a particular section of the country in 2023, arguing that the arrangement may leave Nigeria with “two useless presidential candidates” in an apparent reference to a situation where the two major political Parties zone the Presidential tickets to a particular zone, which is not only the right thing but the best thing.

“Emir Sanusi is undoubtedly one of Nigeria’s most outspoken intellectuals and a technocrat whose public service records are with minimal blemishes. Given his reputation as one of the few elites whose opinions on national discourses most times resonate with the masses and are on the path of truth, one expects Emir Sanusi to be a frontline campaigner for other sections of the country to concede the presidency to the Igbo in 2023. This is not just fair, but moral, Constitutional and in the best interest of national healing and cohesion.

“On the surface of it, one could be persuaded by the eminent scholar’s argument for merit and integrity to be considered above rotation and zoning, but, our peculiarities and history as a nation wouldn’t have to be scrapped just because it has got to the turn of the Igbos to produce the President of the country.

Nigeria is a nation of diverse nationalities with strong and justifiable sensibilities to power rotation, power balancing, and regional inclusion issues.

“Let me assure His Eminence and others who are genuinely concerned about the quality of candidates that Ndigbo is ready to present before other Nigerians, that good effort are ongoing to ensure that only the very best of Igbo is presented across different political Parties to vie for the presidency of the country in 2023.”

“In due time, a screening modality shall be made public, and every Igbo who is interested in vying for the presidency shall be screened; viz a viz; their records in public service, educational qualifications, leadership preparedness, national spread, etc., and names of those who are best qualified for the position shall be presented to Nigerians on different political platforms to choose as flag bearers for the 2023 presidential contest.

“I invite His Eminence and other eminent Nigerians of a good conscience, to join in this noble campaign for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction as this is the surest guarantee for Nigeria’s survival and prosperity,” Ohanaeze said.