2023: IPAN Charges Southeast Politicians To Join Presidential Race
The Igbos For Progressive And United Nationhood (IPAN), a political pressure group has called on the Southeast region to stop complaining of being schemed out of national politics and commence moves to participate in the next election.
IPAN made the call at a news conference in Awka on Saturday,
The group lamented that politicians from the geopolitical zone for not having made a public declaration of their intention to contest for the presidency in the 2023 general election.
Mr Comrade Lawrence Onuzulike, the National President IPAN who addresses the media said they were yet to see Southeast engage in consultation and formation of alliance across the political regions.
Onuzulike said Igbo politicians interested in contesting in the 2023 Presidential Election to be bold enough to declare their intentions and begin the necessary move to actualise it.
According to him, we must not continue to shout marginalisation in leadership only to be found far away from the thick of action when there is an opportunity to offer ourselves in leadership.
“IPAN notes while potential aspirants from other regions are making serious moves in preparation for the presidential race, no Igbo aspirant has shown real seriousness or intention to vie for the office of the President in 2023.
“What we see are watery statements from some individuals and groups insisting on Igbo presidency in 2023; IPAN strongly believes that 2023 presents the biggest opportunity for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction to emerge.
“However we must go beyond rhetorics and make the necessary moves to actualize it, it is obvious that the presidency will not be handed over to Ndigbo on a platter of gold.
“IPAN therefore calls on potential Igbo aspirants in the major political parties to wake up and put themselves in contention for the presidential tickets in their parties.
“We will help when necessary to engage other stakeholders across the country and build alliances for these aspirants if only they show more seriousness,” he said.
The group Conclusion called on Igbo sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora to continue to preach and embrace peace and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
It said no nation could grow in an atmosphere of violence, chaos and bitterness adding that all must strive to respect one another and learn to resolve differences through genuine dialogue.
