2023: Igbo leaders canvass presidency to South-east, power shift in Anambra

A socialpolitical group under the auspices of Igbo Leadership Development Foundation (ILDF) on Tuesday in Abuja reiterated its called for the rotation of Anambra governorship to the Southern part of the state in 2021.

This is just as the group stated further that in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness, Nigeria’s presidency in 2023 should move to South-East, being the only region yet to taste power at the centre in Nigeria.

Addressing a press vonference in Abuja, Tuesday, he group, Director-General of the group, Dr Godwin Udibe, Director, a Public Affairs analyst, Dr Law Mefor and Director, Contact & Mobilisation, Comrade Austin Ifedinezi, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC), the People Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition political parties in the country to zone their presidential position to the South-east, saying, “it is injustice for power to remain in the North after eight years”.

On Anambra gubernatorial, the group said while the two other zones in Anambra Central and Anambra North have been in power for 11 years and 8 years after the second term of Governor Willie Obiano, respectively, the power should rotate to Anambra-South in the spirit of equity.

The statement reads, “The attention of Igbo Leadership Development Foundation (ILDF) has been drawn to the unwholesome moves by some politicians  to truncate the beautiful rotation arrangement of governorship position in Anambra State. The argument of these people is that governorship has moved round the three senatorial zones in State, and the chips therefore should fall where they may starting from 2021 governorship election in the state.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Their Excellencies Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju (Anambra South), Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige and Mr. Peter Gregory Obi (Anambra Central) and currently Chief Willie Obiano (Anambra North) have all governed Anambra State in the order.

“What equity demands now is for Anambra governor to come from Anambra South in 2021, in the spirit of rotation through which the past and current governors of the State had emerged. Some politicians are fighting against it.

This argument against continued rotation of governor is warped and self-serving. Those who propel it do not have the interest of Anambra State at heart. Anambra is the gateway to the South East and blessed with abundant and uncommon human and material resources. It is very crucial that Anambra should get its acts right and show example to the rest of the South East and country at large.”

It stated that, the Igbo Leadership Development Foundation (ILDF), a pan-Igbo sociopolitical group, focusing on promoting good governance, equity and conscientious leadership in Nigeria with particular interest in the South East geopolitical zone.

It added that The Foundation is equally promoting the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in the 2023 General Elections. “The simple reason is that the South East is the only geopolitical zone in Southern Nigeria that has not produced a President for the country in present democratic dispensation and the zone producing Nigeria’s President will no doubt, usher in unity and healing in the land and end the lingering mistrust caused by the Nigeria civil war.

“We therefore believe in rotation as a democratic process that will ensure political inclusivity and reduce the rancor associated with elections as well as cut down costs of electioneering by narrowing candidature to particular zones in each election circle.

“Leaving governorship election as an all-comers affair in Anambra State particularly can only create wide latitude for confusion and conflict as well as incur much cost that could have gone into development of the State.

“In Anambra State particularly, rotation has reduced rancor in gubernatorial contest and ensured even development in the 3 senatorial zones, given that each governor has ensured that his zone received its fair share in terms development and representation in governance. This has led to the transformation of Anambra transforming into a one-city state and one of the most developed States in Nigeria.

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