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2023 Elections: ‘Disunity,’ The Biggest Obstacle To Igbo Presidency
By Praise Ben
With the ticking clock counting down to the February 2023 election, a storm brews over the question of whether the Igbo will finally claim the presidency or if they must endure another long wait until 2031. Meanwhile, the political arena echoes the thunderous clashes and heated debates of the country’s diverse ethnic groups, all clamouring to be the chosen one to occupy the highest office.
At the speed of light, a new force of youth has emerged and banded together under the banner of the ‘Obidient’ movement. Unconstrained by tribal biases, they seek a presidential candidate of exceptional calibre from the South-East, someone who can bring healing to the wounded nation and steer it towards a brighter future with better social and economic prospects for all.
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Like phoenixes rising from the ashes, these young people have formed the ‘Obidient’ movement, determined to save their struggling nation from the grip of political antiquity. Despite accusations from traditional powerhouses that these idealistic youths lack political conviction, the ‘Obidient’ stand firm in their resolve to dethrone the established duopoly of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC) and bring a fresh change to their beloved country.
The Igbos inch closer to the coveted presidency, with the backing of influential figures such as former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the sway of the Labour Party’s presidential candidate over the youth. Yet, some remain sceptical, with former governor Orji Kalu declaring the dream of an Igbo presidency in 2023 as “unrealistic”.
But with the momentum and determination of the young, raising “Obidient” movement to overthrow the dominant political parties and choose a competent South-Eastern candidate to heal the struggling nation, the distant fantasy of an Igbo presidency may finally become a tangible reality.
Igbo elders
According to Kalu, the road to an Igbo presidency appears to be a treacherous one, full of doubts and roadblocks. Kalu has predicted that the Igbos will have to wait for another chance to win the presidency while Soludo has dismissed Obi’s chances, questioning his capacity to win the election and even going as far as to dismiss his gubernatorial achievements as meaningless. Like a dream deferred, the hope for an Igbo presidency seems to be slowly fading away into the horizon, shrouded in uncertainty and scepticism.
With the 2023 election rapidly approaching, some members of the Southeast are uncertain about which direction to cast their vote. Some have placed their trust in political candidates, while others have deferred to the influential Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group. Despite wielding significant power in the region, the IPOB has shown little interest in securing an Igbo presidency, instead focusing its efforts on securing the release of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
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It seems that the Igbos have lost sight of their ultimate goal, as they’re more preoccupied with personal interests than coming together to pursue the presidency. As one of the few regions that haven’t held the reins of power since Nigeria’s independence, the South-East’s chance at the presidency seems to be slipping away once again, with obstacles blocking the path of their leading contender, Obi. The dream of an Igbo president seems like a far-off fantasy that will have to wait for another election cycle to materialise.
Praise Ben writes for Eko Hot Blog. This media platform reserves all rights to this article.
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