The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has responded to a former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who claimed that Igbos are ready to do anything in order to get the opportunity to become Nigeria’s President come 2023.
KanyiDaily recalls that Ezeife said that Igbos are prepared to swallow their pride and “kneel down, prostrate, and beg” other Nigerians for the 2023 presidency.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, CNG’s Spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman described Ezeife’s comment as nothing but deception, saying that Igbos have denied themselves the opportunity to be trusted with power in the near future.
He said, “The bitter truth is that no matter how low the Igbo are willing to go or how long they are willing to keep their knees on the ground, it will be unreasonable to expect other Nigerian tribes, not least the North, to risk entrusting the presidency in them.
“It is said that once bitten, twice shy and the current northern thinking is beyond the repeated deceptions such as this one by the Igbo which at every turn, results in tragedy.
“We see the recent belated desperation by the Igbo as nothing but an afterthought that is downright unacceptable. It is deceptive for them to make such overtures after having encouraged and supported Nnamdi Kanu (leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra – IPOB) and the atrocities committed against other Nigerians, particularly northerners by his IPOB.
“If the Igbo must prostrate to anyone, they should prostrate to Kanu as the North has come of age and shall not be deceived or fooled any longer,” Suleiman added.
Meanwhile, a Northern group in the South-East has called on Nigerians to support the emergence of an Igbo president in the 2023 General Elections.