NATIONAL: Why we will not support president of Igbo extraction in 2023 — IPOB

THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has disclosed why it would not throw its weight behind any candidate for presidency from the Southeastern part of the country come 2023.

The secessionist group said Nigerian President of Igbo extraction is not the solution to the country’s problem, adding that dangling the promise before Igbo politicians is a ploy to kill the agitation for a sovereign State of Biafra.

IPOB noted that those Igbo politicians whose names are being touted as likely candidates for the number one seat in the country are mere stooges of Northerners who will eventually be made to work for the perpetration of Northern hegemony and marginalisation of the Igbo.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said, “We cannot support any person that will kill us, that will mean the end of Biafra emancipation as we know.

“It is still fresh in our minds what transpired at Jos PDP convention when the Late Dr Alex Ekwueme contested for the candidature of the President of Nigeria under PDP in 1999.

“Then the likes of Jim Nwobodo, Orji Uzo Kalu and virtually every other Igbo delegate at that convention voted against him. These Igbo men sabotaged Igbo presidency then, what has changed since 1999 that will make them come out now to shamefully clamour for the same Igbo presidency they publicly rejected in 1999?

“Similarly, when Mr Peter Obi, in 2019 was contesting with Alhaji Abubakar Atiku as his running mate, Governor Dave Umahi and his co-travellers in conspiratory business did not support or campaign for him despite being in the same political party-PDP.

“We are surprised that these people shouting President of Igbo extraction today but sabotaged their own people yesterday think we have forgotten, they also think others will support them when it is their turn.

“Besides, if these myopic and self-centred fellows think producing the President of Nigeria will solve the problem of Ndigbo, when Goodluck Jonathan, an Ijaw man from South-South was Nigeria’s President for six years, what did he do for the East in general and Ijaw people in particular?

“The same Northern oligarchy that did not allow him to operate freely will still not allow any stooge they may eventually appoint from Igboland to succeed. So, it makes no sense clamouring for what won’t proffer any solution to our problems.

“The few major roads built in South-East and South-South were done not by Igbo man, yet none of these traitors masquerading as Igbo leaders today has been able to compel their slave masters to rehabilitate them. Most of these self-acclaimed Igbo and Old Eastern region leaders are caliphate bred traitors and we cannot trust them.”