*2027 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: SOUTH EAST NIGERIA; PETER GREGORY OBI; AND A VERY IMPORTANT & FUNDAMENTAL MATTER ARISING*:
A SOUL SEARCHING MESSAGE *FROM IGBO NATIONAL COUNCIL (INC) TO SOUTH EASTERNERS*, AND A CALL FOR SOBER REFLECTIONS, FOLLOWED BY DECISIVE UNITED ACTION.
*IGBO BU IGBO, GWA NWANNEGI GI EZIOKWU*
*For Ndigbo in South East Nigeria,the 2027 Presidential Elections, is very fundamental and consequential to our quest in asserting our rights as full citizens of Nigeria, and not second class citizens in Nigeria’s present political ecosystem*. But, a few vocal South Easterners led by *Prof Charles Soludo, Engr Dave Umahi*, and now *Senator Rochas Okorocha* hold a contrary view. They believe that South Easterners are not yet capable and so should forgo their immediate right to the Presidency of Nigeria in 2027, and prostrate before a fellow Nigerian from South West Nigeria, who dubiously outsmarted South Easterners and the rest of Nigeria in 2023, and grabbed the Office of the President of Nigeria that rightfully belongs to South East Nigeria from 2023 to 2031, according to the existing key political offices zoning and rotation agreement in Nigeria. *Igbo National Council (INC) is however of the view that this time around South Easterners must ensure by all means necessary that our current rotational right are not subverted again in the 2027 Presidential election*.
*Since 1999 to date, South West Nigeria, has occupied the office of the President of Nigeria for 11 years, and office of the Vice President of Nigeria for 8 years*. *For South East Nigeria, it is 0 years for both offices*. Lest we forget, that is the main reason the *Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum led by Chief E.K. Clark and Chief Ayo Adebanjo*,both of blessed memories strongly supported South East for the Presidency of Nigeria in the *2023 Presidential Election*, and their adopted Candidate was *Peter Obi*.
*With regards to Mr Peter Gregory Obi, the Presidential Candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Please, South Easterners and Igbo bu Igbo, let it be very clear to all of us and the rest of Nigeria, that Peter Gregory Obi is not running for office as an Igbo or South East Presidential candidate, but as a bona fide Nigerian who believes that he is very qualified and capable to be the President of Nigeria, and he has presented himself to Nigerians to elect him as the next President of Nigeria. He is not running for the Office of the President as a candidate of Ndigbo or South East Nigeria, but as the candidate of Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) national party*.
The meeting point between him and the rest of us Ndigbo and South Easterners is that he is currently the best candidate in the 2027 Presidential Election from South East Nigeria. It could have been someone else. Objectively, He also happens to be the best candidate amongst the 3 candidates considered by Nigerians to be the front runners. The other two candidates being Tinubu and Atiku.
*South Easterners and Igbo bu Igbo, it is very very important that Ndigbo in South East Nigeria understand that the 2027 Presidential Election is not about Peter Obi, but about South East Nigeria insisting that they are capable of championing the principle of 6 Zonal Rotation of Key Political Offices as espoused by our late leader H.E.Dr Alex Ekwueme,GCON, and adopted in practice by Nigeria*. *As had been stated earlier only South East out of the 3 Geopolitical Zones in Southern Nigeria has not occupied the Office of the President of Nigeria since 1999 and most Nigerians are in agreement that the Presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria until 2031*. *Peter Obi may be the beneficiary in this election cycle, but for South East Nigeria, this is a political battle that must be owned by all of us because it is our rotational right, and not that of any individual*.
*If we don’t take up this battle, all South Easterners will not be respected by the rest of the country. How on earth could one individual from South West Nigeria intimidate the entire South East Nigeria and take our rightful entitlement in 2023, and although currently unwell, is threatening to rob us again in 2027 and we don’t prevent him? Are we Zombies ? God forbid. By the way, in terms of Character, Competence, and Capacity, is President Tinubu more qualified than Peter Obi to be the President of Nigeria ?*
Any individual can decide to sell his or her Rights for a mess of pottage. That is a personal choice. Our duty before God and Man is to let South Easterners understand what is at stake in the 2027 Presidential Election which will enable all of us to make informed decisions anchored on facts and not propaganda.
*It is not about onye Igbo becoming President of Nigeria, but it is about a South Easterner becoming the President of Nigeria, when it is their rightful turn based on the generally accepted 6 Geo Political Zones in Nigeria. There are Igbos in South East and South South Nigeria,but political offices are currently shared and rotated in Nigeria on the basis of Geo Political Zones and not Tribe. And 2027 is the rightful turn of the South East Nigeria for the Nigerian Presidency and we must unite and fight for our rotational right without any fear. South Easterners should not be deceived. We are not cowards and should not allow anyone to intimidate or suppress us.*
All South Easterners with honour and dignity, and in unity, should mobilize and market to the rest of Nigeria our best Candidate in the upcoming 2027 Presidential Election who happens to be Peter Gregory Obi of NDC. It is the right thing to do for our sake and that of our children. Igbo National Council on behalf of Igbo bu Igbo in South East Nigeria thanks most sincerely, *Chief Chekwas Okorie( Oje Ozi Ndi Igbo)* for his untiring efforts in championing the *SOUTH EAST PRESIDENCY PROJECT in 2027*. Oje Ozi Ndi Igbo, your efforts will not be in vain.
Let no one deceive us that South Easterners are not capable of strategically winning this battle. We are not MUMUS and God in His infinite goodness has given South East, the best Presidential Candidate in the 2027 National Elections, who is generally accepted by the rest of Nigeria. This is the reason why many other Nigerians are bemused when the wrong impression is created in the media by some high profile individuals, like *Soludo, Umahi, and Okorocha* that South Easterners are not interested in a South Easterner becoming the President of Nigeria in 2027 because we are “afraid of President Tinubu”. *We shall definitely overcome all our detractors both within and outside the South East during the 2027 Presidential Election.*
*Long Live South East Nigeria ! Long Live Nigeria !*
*IGBO NATIONAL COUNCIL (INC)*
