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2023: Ohanaeze Backs S’South For Presidency …Threatens Another Civil War
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has agreed to allow the South-South region to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 presidency.
It would be recalled that South-South elders had last weekend declared that the 2023 presidency should be ceded to the zone to avert crisis.
The elders argued that giving 2023 presidency to the North would tear Nigeria apart, as the expiration of Buhari’s tenure completes North’s two tenures of straight eight years.
The National Publicity Secretary of Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe, had said the South-South has used just one tenure, adding that it was only fair to allow the zone to produce the next president for another four years to complete the zone’s second tenure.
Reacting to PANDEF’s argument, yesterday, Ohanaeze, in a statement sent made available to newsmen and signed by the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, agreed to support the move by South-South, warning that any move by the government to hand over the presidency to the North would lead to another civil war.
The Igbo group called on Nigerians to unite and produce a Christian president from the South to ensure progress and security, stressing that “It is an invitation to anarchy and suicidal for a Muslim North or Muslim South to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari”.
The statement read: “The position of the South-South Elders Forum led by Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe on the North’s aspirations to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari by undemocratic elements, and any attempt by these Northern cabals to destroy the unconventional agreement of rotational presidency between North and South, will definitely plunge Nigeria into another civil war, civil disobedience and civil unrest.
“In a multi-facets democracy like ours where religion and ethnicity play a major role in our democracy, OYC advocates in 2023, that Nigeria should produce a Christian president from the South to ensure progress and security.
“It’s an invitation to anarchy and suicidal for a Muslim North or Muslim South to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari but definitely a Christian southerner is what is ideal.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide observed that in the 20 years of Nigeria’s democracy, Igbos supported Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan and Buhari, and deserve the support from Nigerians across-the-board, especially the Niger Delta in 2023.
“It’s on record that during 2011 and 2015, Igbo votes for Jonathan exceeded that of the entire South-South votes for Jonathan, the allusion the South-South will do one term is a ruse, as it’s only Goodluck Jonathan that is limited by Nigeria’s Constitution for one tenure until he declares interest. 2023 Igbo Presidency project remains the hope of Nigeria.
“We advise Chief Anabs Sara-Igbe to follow up with the footsteps of the leader of Niger Delta, and Elder Statesman, Pa Edwin Clark, who had declared support for 2023 Igbo Presidency project for peace, justice, and fairness.
“Apart from Goodluck Jonathan, every other South-South aspirants are entitled to the constitutional provision of two terms. So, OYC urges Sara-Igbe to support Igbo Presidency project as he observed that Igbos had never been in the saddle 50 years after the Biafra War.
“OYC wishes to correct an erroneous but false impression, that the North doubts Igbo’s sincerity of Igbo Presidency project over Biafra, as a myth of falsehood created by proponents of instability and undemocratic anarchists fanning the embers of disintegration and unity of our beloved country through promotion of hate and malice, with evil intent aimed at halting a Nigerian President of Igbo stock in 2023 through the spread of lies against Igbos, who are more Nigerians than tribe with investments worth over N221trillion in the North.
“We wish to remind Sara-Igbe that it was resource control agitation being championed by the Niger Delta that led to the compensation for Jonathan’s six years presidency.
“It was the activities of Boko Haram and insecurity in the North that motivated Nigerians to support President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015, and it was NADECO and OPC militia activities that led to Olusegun Obasanjo’s Presidency in 1999.
“So, definitely, Igbos are looking for Igbo Presidency in 2023, and Biafra agitation, which includes South-South region is now championed by their prominent son, Alhaji Mujihad Asari Dokubo, who is the supreme leader of the Biafra National Council.
“Definitely, it is the turn of South-South region to support a Nigerian President of Igbo stock in 2023 for posterity sake”, the group argued.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that hotels, schools, and other establishments that accept payments in dollars from their customers are at risk of facing arrest.
The Chairman of EFCC, Ola Olukoyede, said this in the agency’s publication called EFCC Alert on Monday, adding that action would be taken against individuals involved in the dollarisation of the economy.
According to him, the exception is if foreigners come in to transact business and the only means of transacting is their credit card and dollar but to charge local customers in dollars or other foreign currencies would no longer be allowed.
He said charging local activities and customers in dollars is against Nigeria’s constitution.
The EFCC chairman said, “Schools that charge Nigerians in dollar, supermarkets that trade in dollar, estate developers that sell their property in dollar, hotels that are invoicing in dollar, we are coming after you and we have made arrests in that area.
“Yes, if foreigners are coming in and the only means of transacting is their credit card, and dollar, why not? You will get that.
“But document it properly as against selling things within the system, local economy and you will be using dollar as the medium of exchange, it is illegal.
“Our law does not allow for that. And we have also affected some arrests.”
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has enjoined Muslim faithful to remain steadfast to the lessons learnt during the holy month of Ramadan.
Governor Fubara stated this in his message of felicitations to Muslims as they celebrate the 2024 Eid-el-Fitr Sallah, which marks the end of the one-month Ramadan fasting.
The Governor emphasised the importance for Muslims to also uphold the tenets of Islam by exhibiting the fear of God and showing piety in their daily work.
Governor Fubara said, “We must all continue in the good attributes imbibed during the holy month of Ramadan as directed by God through His Prophet, so as to ensure peace, unity and harmony in the society for a better future.”
While praying that the essence of the festival offers them happiness, peace and prosperity in all aspects of life, Governor Fubara said he recognises and appreciates the critical role that the Muslim community continues to play in the development of Rivers State, and indeed, Nigeria at large.
Governor Fubara charged them to remain unwavering and steadfast in their commitment and positive contributions to advance the development of the State and the country.
“I enjoin you all in the State to remain calm, be patient and continue to do what is right,” the Governor added.
He wished the Muslim faithful in the State and across the country a happy Eid-el-Fitr celebration.
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