Igbo youths under the aegis of the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, (COSEYL) have threatened to have their own President in the Southeast if Nigeria deny them the opportunity in 2023.
He reacted to Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, spokesperson of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) on his recent comment about the north retaining power in 2023, affirming that the South East will produce its own President if that happens.
Ahmed had made the comment while speaking at the maiden Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series organized by the students wing of Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where he said that anyone who doesn’t want a Northerner as President in 2023 can leave the country.
In a statement, the President General of the Igbo youth group, Goodluck Ibem, described the utterance by the northern statesman as unfortunate and disappointing.
“It is unfortunate that a man of his standing who the youths look up to for better direction and guidance will hold such view on such important and sensitive issue. We are totally disappointed that he will make such statement.
“It is a well known fact that the North cannot produce Nigerian President without the support of the Southern Nigerians. President Buhari had the full support of the North and he contested in 2003 and he lost.
“He contested again in 2007 and 2011 and lost. He won the election in 2015 when he aligned with the Southern part of the country who voted for him and he emerged as president. It is wrong for the hen to forget the one that assists her in drying up her wet feathers during the rainy season, as the saying goes. It was the support of the South that made President Buhari to win his elections in 2015 and 2019.
“We are very surprised that Hakeem has suddenly forgotten so soon how President Buhari emerged as president. History doesn’t lie, he should go back to history to refresh his memory.
“We as the youth leaders of South East geopolitical zone stand by the decision of the Southern governors that the office of the Nigerian president be zoned to the South for equity and justice.”
Source: Daily Sun.
