As the preparation for another election cycle is thickening on, Nigeria politicians have embarked on the permutations to outmaneuver themselves to win the election. As with previous election since 2003, the southeast zone of Ndigbo is agitating for president to come from the zone in the coming 2023 presidential election. The people of the zone based their sentiment on the notion that the zone is being marginalized from the scheme of things since the inception of this republic since 1999.
Southeast and their sympathisers are pushing for 1999 scenario that produced Obasanjo, in which all contesting political parties in election zoned their candidacies to southwest which ultimately gave southwest its shot to be president. However, those pushing the narratives failed to put into cognizant the difference in the dynamics in the polity of 1999 and that of coming 2023. While 1999 was on the backdrop of annulled 1993 election which sees the need to compensate the southwest for their loss, 2023 own is all about politics which according to those against the southeast agitation see the zone’s loyalty to a certain political party.
To be very frank, I think the Igbos deserve a shot at the presidency in 2023, but the party that should and must give it to them is the one they have been loyal to, that is, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). It will amount to unfairness and injustice to deny Ndigbo the opportunity to be the presidential flag bearer of the party. It is only right for the party to reward the zone. The Igbos have given everything to the party and they are not afraid to make more enemies for the cause of the party since the inception of this republic.
Igbos in particular has always had a shot at the presidency of Nigeria from like forever. Is there any election cycle that we have not had at least one candidate of igbo extraction? Did the Igbos vote those candidates? Not even Ojukwu was voted for by the Igbos. The zone has only voted massively for one party and all of its successive presidential candidates since 1999, and the party is none but PDP. The party can pick whoever they desires and think is the best among the retinue of qualified contestants which they have in abundance across the region.
The zone should stop hounding other parties especially APC to cede the presidency to them, if they must insist on getting it. They should insist on the PDP ticket, no section deserve it more than them from the party. Only grossly mischievous people will argue anything against them from getting the party nods for presidency.
So, may I use this opportunity to beg the PDP to please hand over the presidential ticket of their party to the southeast? No region has remained as steadfast, loyal, supportive, loving, caring & forgiving of the PDP as the Ndigbo. They truly deserve it.
