2023 Presidency Must Go To Igbos — Clark Warns

Leader in Niger Delta and former Federal Commissioner, Chief Edwin Clark has appealed to the Yoruba of Southwest, Nigerian to Bury their ambition in 2023 Presidential race to Igbos for the interest of peace and unity in Nigeria.

Speaking during an interview with Vanguard newspaper, the Elder statesman said that every region of the country have qualified people to lead Nigeria.

He further stated that since after the civil war in Nigeria, the Igbos have not had a shot at Presidency, while North, West and even South-South have all produced President and is now time for the Igbos.

But some argued that the Igbo have not played politics well to deserve it?

How do they want them to play it? Have they not been participating in all the elections? Do they not have governors elected in the East? Do they not have National Assembly members elected in the East? Is it because they refused to vote for a particular party? What are they talking about? How does that affect them? During the 2019 campaign, we heard Mr Babatunde Fashola (Minister) and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo saying that if the South-West voted for Buhari en-masse, the presidency would come to them in 2023.

The Secretary to the Federal Government went to the South-East to say the same thing. Labour Minister Chris Ngige also said same thing to south-easterners. These were mere campaign gimmicks. Let us face the reality; most of them who are talking about it were not born when Nigeria got independence and they didn’t know how Nigeria developed. I am now 92. I saw Nigeria in the First Republic and the role the Igbo played.

There is no politician better than the Igbo politician. The Sardauna of Sokoto and Premier of the Northern Nigeria, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, played politics together with his Igbo counterparts. The Mbadiwes and Aja Nwanchukus were easterners who played leading roles in the development of this country. What of Nnamdi Azikiwe? Nigeria has qualified people from every region, every state. To say they have not played politics well is unacceptable. Is it because they fought the civil war they believed in?

What then are the chances of the South-West in 2023?

They should stop thinking of becoming the President of Nigeria. What does Tinubu have to offer that the people of the South-East cannot offer? What is the justification for them to become the President of Nigeria? Is it because they belong to the APC? They should not be thinking of how to divide Nigeria.

We must all unite and have respect for ourselves. The South-West should allow other people to have a taste of power. There is no way the South-West would be better than the South-East on the 2023 presidency.

Culled from Vanguard Newspaper