A statement which was credited to Rotimi Amaechi, minister of transportation, on Igbo presidency has been regarded as “nothing but the truth”.
This was stated by the secretary-general of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Uche Okwukwu, who added that all those who attacked the minister over the statement were politically ignorant.
Recall that in an interview recently, Amaechi had implied that Igbos do not have anything to bring to the negotiation table and as such should not bother to demand the presidency in 2023.
The statement drew criticisms from stakeholders in the region.
“In the past few days, I have followed the hopeless and unnecessary attacks by a few misguided and politically ignorant Igbo sons against the Minister of Transportation, Chibuike Amaechi, because of the truthful comment he made about the Igbo quest for the Presidency in 2023,” Okwukwu said.
“Amaechi predictable assertion to the effect that Ndigbo has by an act of omission or commission shot themselves out of the presidency come 2023 is nothing but the truth.
“To the best of my knowledge as the Secretary-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the suspended President General Chief John Nwodo betrayed Amaechi and the Igbo race as he (Nwodo) had earlier spoken with and agreed with him (Amaechi) that Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be neutral by not endorsing any candidate for the presidential election. In 2015, Ohanaeze took this path and failed.
“Regrettably, Nwodo and the likes of Mazi Okwu Nnabuike purportedly endorsed Alhaji Atiku Abubakar without affording Amaechi (then director-general, Buhari campaign organization), the opportunity to present the reasons for the president’s bid for a second term.
“Amaechi and his fellow patriots had argued that it was better for Ndigbo to vote massively for President Buhari to provide them space to politically and morally demand an Igbo President in 2023. The Question is, if Atiku had won, will Nnabuike be asking for the presidency in 2023. The obvious answer is no.”
The secretary-general of the apex Igbo socio-cultural group maintained that those who criticized the minister should apologise to him.
“Admittedly, Amaechi cannot determine the political future of Ndigbo alone, but he as an Igbo and other progressives can influence the political future of Ndigbo,” Okwukwu noted.
“He has the political and strategic experience and had commanded a campaign organization twice and secured victory twice, while Mazi Okwu Nnabuike and his likes had blindly endorsed failure twice.”
source https://www.naijanews.com/2019/05/20/why-we-support-amaechis-statement-that-igbos-are-not-ready-for-presidency-in-2023-ohaneze/
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