Balance and Equity Group says Igbo presidential candidate must be acceptable to all Nigerians

SOCIO-political body the Balance and Equity Group has advised politicians of Igbo extraction who believe the southeast geo-political zone should produce Nigeria's next president to ensure they pick a candidate acceptable to all parts of the country.

Although not constitutional, Nigeria's component parts have a gentleman's agreement that the presidency will rotate between the north and the south of the country. President Muhammadu Buhari's tenure will end in 2023 and being a Fulani northern Muslim, it is expected that the next president will come from southern Nigeria.

Since the return to democracy in 1999, the southwest has produced President Olusegun Obasanjo and the south-south President Goodluck Jonathan, so come 2023, the presidency should automatically go to the southeast. Amid claims that the southeast is being marginalised by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari, numerous Igbo groups have argued for the recreation of the defunct republic of Biafra that existed briefly between July 1967 and January 1970.

With several prominent Igbo politicians throwing their harts into the ring, the Balance and Equity Group has warned that politicians with bad track records should steer clear of 2023. Chris Arinze, the group's founder and national coordinator, said the 2023 presidential elections should be about presenting right and credible candidates with the capacity to move the country forward.

He commended Ebonyi State governor Dave Umahi, former senate president Anyim Pius Anyim and former Abia State governor Orji Uzor Kalu for declaring their interests in the presidency. Mr Arinze urged other interested Igbo politicians and technocrats to declare their interests too so the best aspirant would be selected among them.

Mr Arinze pointed out that their declaration of interest had become very imperative because his group is putting structures in motion to conduct a presidential interest debate for all the aspirants. He added that his group would never support any politician with a suspicious track record and would only back someone that has the intellectual, physical and moral capacity and capability to lead the country.

“We want to produce an Igbo presidential aspirant that will be a Nigerian and who will represent the Nigerian people in all sector and strata, irrespective of religion, language, tribe, ethnic affiliation and political affiliation. An aspirant who will not just be for the Igbos but for all Nigerians.

“We want someone that will be accepted by all Nigerians and be voted for by all Nigerians and is not above the age limit that Nigerians require and desire. Someone that is not above 65 years, someone that is young, physically strong and mentally alert.

“We do not want someone that will be spending much of his time for medical treatment overseas where billions of Nigeria money will be spent on his health. We want someone that has the capacity and capability to solve the country’s security and economic problems.

“Nigeria president of Igbo extraction will go a long way to assuage the agitations that have been bedevilling the country of late. We assure Nigerians that they will not regret voting an Igbo man as president of this great country,” Mr Arinze added.