Former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has warned the Igbo in the country that except they ensure the victory of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in the 2019 election, the chances of an Igbo Presidency in future may be slim.
Stating that it was in their best interest to be united and work for the victory of the PDP candidates, he said the All Progressives Congress, APC, should not be taken seriously over their promises.
“I urge you the Igbo not to allow anybody to relegate you to the background because you occupy a place of preeminence in this country.
“The Igbo must bury their differences and work together for the actualisation of the Atiku/Obi project in their best interest. It’s dangerous to take the APC government seriously,” he said.
The former president who addressed a stakeholders’ meeting at Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, said with Peter Obi as the running mate to Atiku, there was hope.
He said all that the Igbo needed to do was to be united and give the necessary support to Atiku and Obi.
“You and your presidential candidate have become the beacon of hope to all Nigerians who have had it so rough in the last four years.
“You need to think out of the box to take this country out of the woods caused by the incumbent clueless administrators.
“With your pedigree as a governor, I’m hopeful that things will work again in Nigeria under your leadership as vice president,” Obasanjo said.
The hope of an Igbo Presidency, it would be recalled, was ignited by the promise of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, that if the Igbo vote for Buhari in the 2019 election, he might hand over government to them in 2023.
However, only recently, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, played the ethnic card when he urged the Yoruba to vote for Muhammadu Buhari in the coming election.
Osinbajo who was at the palace of Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to pay homage said the place of the Yoruba would be assured to rule in 2023 if Buhari emerged president again.
This position is contrary to the belief that it might be the turn of an Igbo Presidency in 2023.
