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Igbo Presidency: Will they have it in 2023?

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President Ohaneze Ndigbo

 

Abbas Yushau Yusuf

Igbo Presidency may have become silenced as agitators may have tired due to its seemingly unending realization

When pundits are asked when will Igbos have a shot at the Presidency, many Nigerians will think that the question is rhetorical or meant to tease the third most populous race in Nigeria.

By the time Nigeria get independence in 1960, an Igbo man that had the only chance to rule Nigeria was Major General Johnson Thomas Umanakwe Aguiyi Ironsi for only six months.

Since the counter-coup that swept him from office Nigerian politics did not augur well for the Igbos.

The July 29, 1966, counter-coup that removed General Ironsi from power plunged the country into a three-year civil war.

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Nigeria did not recuperate from the war until after the introduction of three R’s by General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s  Pre- War and Postwar Head of state.

The three R’s of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction made the war-torn Southeast to be rehabilitated and reconstructed.

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But for the past 54 years what has been preventing the Igbos from accessing the highest office of the land?

The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 regards the whole country as the constituency to which an aspiring President has to drum support before being elected.

The blunders said to have been done by Igbos of the south-east may not be unconnected with strictly aligning to one political party since Nigeria return to Democracy.

In its 21 years of Civil rule from 1999 to date, Igbos did not even play the second fiddle, they only had the chance to be senate Presidents from Evans Enwerem to Chuba Okadigbo to Anyim Pius Anyim, Adolphus Wabara and lastly Ken Nnamani.

In his four-time contest before becoming elected President of Nigeria, President Muhamadu Buhari had picked two late Igbos as running mates but he only ends up getting embarrassed votes from the southeast.

The first Igbo running mate chose by President Muhammadu Buhari was Late Chief Dr. Wilberforce William Chuba Okadigbo and late second Republic House speaker Chief Edwin Ume Ezeoke,   but still, the Igbos refused to give President Muhammadu Buhari block votes during his four-time contest.

Therefore one will ask are the Igbos ready to bring the southeast into mainstream national politics like what the southwest did in 2015 and 2019.

Atiku tried to woo them in 2019 general elections but was beaten by President Muhammadu Buhari.

With the exception of Dr. Benjamin Nnamdi Azikiwe and General Aguiyi Ironsi that once had a shot at Nigeria’s highest office as a result of realities of their time.

The way  South-east has been distancing the region from mainstream national politics it will be hard for an Igbo man to become Nigeria’s President in the near future.

If the APC agrees to the power shift arrangement it had with the southwest the pendulum will swing in the southwest and likely a Yoruba man may succeed President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2023.

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The political equation will only favor Igbos if they woo other Nigerians and aligned themselves with the mainstream National politics and deviate from banking in only one political party.

Even Nigeria People’s party of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe did not fetch him the Presidency in the second republic let alone in the 21st century when every Nigerian is becoming more aware and sophisticated with realities of the ground.

 

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Politics

PDP Youth Activist Calls for Suspension of Shekarau, Bello Hayatu from the party

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Salisu Usman Karaskabuli, a youth activist of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, has called for the immediate suspension of several high-ranking party members, including former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and Yahaya Bagobiri.

He accused them of sabotaging the party’s efforts in the state and hindering PDP’s progress in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kano, Salisu Karaskabuli alleged that Shekarau has engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election.
“Despite being a PDP leader, the majority of his supporters backed the APC candidate,” Salisu Karaskabuli said.
He further claimed that Shekarau is already mobilizing his supporters to work for Senator Barau’s governorship ambitions in 2027, signaling ongoing disloyalty.

Salisu Karaskabuli also blamed the PDP National Vice Chairman for the Northwest Bello Hayatu Gwarzo for failing to unite the party across the region.
He noted that prominent PDP members, such as former governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, had defected to other parties due to Gwarzo’s ineffective leadership.
Concerning the recent PDP congress in Kano, Usman expressed frustration, rejecting the outcomes of the ward, local government, and state congresses.
He accused the leadership of the party for partisan zoning and disqualifying candidates without valid reasons.

Further accusations were leveled at Yahaya Bagobiri, the chairman of PDP elders in Kano.
Salisu Usman claimed that Bagobiri had leaked sensitive party information to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

Usman Karaskabuli called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the accused members and, if found guilty, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The accusations come at a time when the PDP in Kano and the wider Northwest is grappling with internal divisions, which some fear could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Youth Activist Urges President Tinubu to Appoint Murtala Sule Garo as Minister

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Sadiq Ali Sango

 

Sadiq Ali Sango, a prominent youth activist of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing Murtala Sule Garo as a minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Sango made this known in a statement released to journalists in Kano.

The Federal Government recently announced that President Tinubu would soon reshuffle his cabinet, sparking widespread speculation over potential new appointees.
Sango expressed optimism that Garo, a grassroots politician with a proven track record, would be a fitting choice for a ministerial position.

“Murtala Sule Garo is not only a politician but a true son of the soil, with immense contributions to the APC in Kano,” Sango stated.
“His service as the APC’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election and his unwavering commitment to the party despite not having the reins of government in Kano makes him the ideal candidate for Tinubu’s cabinet.”

Sango further highlighted Garo’s role in holding the party together during difficult times, describing him as the “supporting pillar” of the APC in Kano.
“He has carried the party on his shoulders, providing support to party leaders and members alike,” he added.

With the APC no longer in control of Kano State’s government, Garo’s influence at the grassroots level has been pivotal for the party’s continued strength in the region.
According to Sango, Garo’s appointment would reinforce the party’s position in Kano and contribute to the success of President Tinubu’s administration.

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The call for Murtala Sule Garo’s inclusion in the Federal Executive Council comes amid growing anticipation regarding the composition of the new cabinet and the need for strong political figures to represent Kano at the national level.

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Uncovered: How APC Caucus Award Councillorship Ticket After ₦1.7M Payment

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In a surprising development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus in Dorayi Ward, Gwale Local Government Area, Kano State, have come under scrutiny for their method of selecting a councillorship candidate.

Following the screening process, nine candidates were disqualified, leaving only two contenders for the position. According to reliable sources, when the APC ward Caucas were unable to reach a consensus on who should represent the party, they proposed an unusual solution.

The two remaining candidates were given 24 hours to deposit ₦2 million each into the account of the Caucas Chairman.

The source said “The following morning one of the candidates paid ₦1.7 million into the Caucas chairman’s account. Despite not meeting the full ₦2 million demand, the Caucas reportedly awarded him the councillorship ticket.”

This decision has sparked widespread discontent among other aspirants and party members, with many expressing outrage over the alleged monetization of the selection process.

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Some candidates, who were excluded from the race, are reportedly planning to lodge formal complaints with the Kano State APC Chairman, arguing that the procedure undermines the principles of fairness and merit in the party.

“This is not how a democratic process should work,” said one of the aspirants who requested anonymity. “We are supposed to serve the people, not buy our way into the office. The leadership of our party must intervene and address this issue before it damages the party’s reputation.”

However, the chairman of the screening committee Ado Gambo Jaen confirmed that the committee requested 2 million naira from each of the two candidates, Ibrahim Adamu and Aliyu Ali Sango, to assess their readiness for the councillorship position.

While submitting their report to the APC Gwale local chairman, Ado Gambo Jaen said “We requested the money to see who among the candidates is truly ready to take on the role.” Ibrahim Adamu paid 1.7 million naira, securing his spot as the councillorship candidate.

The controversy highlights growing concerns about internal party politics within the APC, especially at the grassroots level, where money is increasingly seen as a deciding factor in elections.

As the dust settles, all eyes will be on how the Kano State party leadership responds to the allegations and whether any further action will be taken.

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