2023: S’East Leaders Demand Presidency

Religious and traditional leaders in the South East geo-political zone, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo as well as women and youth groups, have demanded that Igbos should be given the opportunity to provide the President of Nigeria in 2023 general elections.
The leaders of the groups also demanded for the creation of additional states in the South-East geo-political zone in the spirit of equity and justice as well as urgent construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of all federal roads in the zone, which they lamented, have turned to death traps.
They also asked for equitable representation of the South-East in the security architecture among the five Service Chiefs, Immigration and Inspector General of Police as well as disarming of the killer herdsmen operating with AK47 rifles in the zone.
The leaders made the demands when the Presidential delegation led by the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, met with South-East governors, members of the National Assembly from South-East, Federal Ministers from the zone, among others, at the Government House, Enugu, on Saturday.
The 14-point comm-uniqué was presented after the meeting, which lasted more than five hours at the Government House, Enugu by the Governor of Ebonyi State and Chairman, South-East Governors’ Forum, Engr. David Umahi.
The meeting was also attended by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, their Imo State counterpart, Senator Hope Uzodinma and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke, among other leaders of the zone.
Umahi stressed that “South East people believe in one Nigeria and this is the reason we are in every part of this country erecting infrastructure, living peacefully with our host communities and doing our businesses”.
Earlier in his address as the host, Governor Ugwuanyi stated that the strategic dialogue between the Presidential delegation and the expanded meeting of the South-East stakeholders was historic and momentous as it presented an uncommon opportunity for deepening the common ideas between the zone and the Presidency.
Governor Ugwuanyi therefore reiterated their abiding faith in the Nigeria project and unwavering commitment to a united, peaceful and equitable Nigeria.