World Igbo Youth Congress to organise one million man march in support of Buhari's re-election

PAN-Igbo group the World Igbo Youth Congress (Wiyc) plans to hold a one million man march to Aso Rock this month to show its support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.

One of President Buhari's main backers in the southeast region of Nigeria that is currently up in arms against his government over what is seen as marginalisation of Ndigbo, the Wiyc has opposed calls for the area to secede. In addition, the Wiyc has vowed to stop the re-election of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State in 2019, saying that his administration has led to the suffering of workers and pensioners by owing them salary and pension arrears.

Wiyc publicity officer Mazi Alex Okemiri, said: "After consultation with Igbo Youth stakeholders, we decided to march to Aso Rock and demand that President Buhari should run for second tenure. We will support Buhari with bloc votes from the southeast.

"Even a majority of members of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo have given us their support given that President Buhari is more credible than agents of restructuring and he has only four years to hand over to an Igbo Man in 2023. Ndigbo will support Buhari if he rehabilitates all roads in the southeast and supports small and medium enterprise businesses."

In addition, the group scored Governor Ikpeazu poorly, saying that it will officially present an him an award as the face of bad governance and worst governor in Nigeria on December 10, in Umuahia. Wiyc vowed that no intimidation would stop it from presenting the award as it listed Governor Ikpeazu’s sins to include the non-payment of workers’ salaries and pension, adding that his made in Aba products promotion campaign is a fraud.

Mazi Okemiri added: “He uses the campaign of made in Aba products to establish a secret company in China and uses the scheme to launder funds through his aides, which is why he has no control over some of his Ngwa aides, especially those from Obingwa. His Obingwa aides are richer than Abia State and will be dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission by January, to know how they acquired over half of the choice properties in Aba and Umuahia.

“Ikpeazu has collapsed all the infrastructure in Abia, without constructing any major road, rather he is hiding under the governors’ forum to demand federal government intervention in Abia. Ikpeazu has been caged by his beer parlour Ngwa aides and when he loses election, Obingwa people will stone him, so he should emulate Mugabe and resign and hand over to his deputy.”