Emeka Ezeife, elder statesman and former governor of Anambra State, has insisted that the Igbo are not interested in becoming vice president of Nigeria in 2023.
Ezeife who spoke on Arise TV breakfast programme, The Morning Show on Wednesday, argued that it’s the turn of the Southeast to produce president of the country
The former governor decried the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to deny the Southeast their, but expressed hope that with Mr. Peter Obi, something positive is about to happen in the country.
He noted that Obi, former governor of Anambra and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, will mark a turning point for the country, as according to him, true change is coming.
He said, “Nigeria playing politics without principle and conscience. We don’t want vice president. We are not unfortunate, nor regretting.
Something has gone wrong with our leadership. But there will be a change because God desires greatness for Nigeria, God has taken over.
It is over for PDP and APC. We are coming out of usual politics to something more developmental. Obi is a turning point, a change is coming.”
Speaking about David Umahi, Ebonyi State governor who recently declared support for Bola Tinubu, presidential candidate of the APC, while denigrating the Igbo and Ohanaeze Ndigbo over his loss at the ruling party’s presidential primary, Ezeife said the Ebonyi governor doesn’t understand Nigerian politics.
Umahi is my personal friend. We have problems but he doesn’t understand the politics of this nation. I will appeal to him to recant his statement and support Obi. He is talking to himself and must withdraw the statement,” Ezeife said.
The elder statesman noted that the country’s political system needed to be be overhauled.
According to him, “We need people who will move away from ethnicity and religion. I don’t think that we should because of religion kill ourselves.
There is comprehensive corruption in the system, many Igbo delegates did not vote for Igbo candidates because of money, they unleashed dollars and sponsored people to buy N100m form.”
Ezeife called for unity between the Igbo and the Yoruba, noting that rivalry between the two ethnic groups is the reason Nigeria is stuck.
He said, “The Yoruba and Igbo are the main reason we have problems, we have to understand and love Nigeria together.
Nigeria should take advantage of this period, Yoruba and Igbo should come together, and should that the Fulani is a minority but we need them.”
“There will be a three day prayer by Igbo to ask God to humble the Igbo and make this process come through for the benefit of all Nigerians.”