Group Kicks against Vice-Presidential Slot for Igbos

Ohaneze Ndigbo,

By Christopher Isiguzo
Less than 24 hours after it was reported that the leadership of the newly-registered All Progressives Congress (APC) may be considering zoning its vice-presidential ticket for the 2015 election to the South-east, the umbrella body of youths from the zone, the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM), Tuesday warned politicians from the zone against accepting the vice-presidential slot.

The body, however, did not make a categorical statement concerning its position on Igbo presidency in 2015, but noted that Igbos should bid their time until “we claim our turn for the presidency.”

The IYM, in a statement made available to journalists in Enugu by its president, Elliot Uko, also urged Igbos at home and in the Diaspora to support the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo, in order not to give the impression that the people of the zone were working at cross purposes.

It insisted that the Igbo question within the context of a larger Nigerian question, cannot be favourably resolved if Ndigbo remained disunited and permanently at war with themselves.

“We must place group survival above individual differences. We plead with all those aggrieved persons to place group interest above all else and come together as one united family in order to confront the task ahead with one mind and one might,” Uko noted.
The group further pleaded with Igbo elders, royal fathers, bishops and town unions to step in and resolve whatever differences that was still lingering within Igbo leadership, stressing that, “it is obvious to all that if we do not close ranks early enough, we could become the laughing stock of all Nigeria. We must come together for the sake of our progeny.”

It further expressed appreciation to President Goodluck Jonathan on the fulfillment of an international gateway at Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu leading to the commencement of operation by Ethiopian Airline last weekend at the airport.
"With the formal take off of the international airport, IYM expressed optimism that modernisation of the Eastern railway lines and other promises would be fulfilled in due time too."

“We know that the people of South-east know how to reciprocate when the time comes. We believe that Mr. President knows that only prompt and dutiful fulfillment of his promises to Ndigbo will sustain his relationship with our people and nothing else,” the IYM president said.