2023: Atiku’s proposal to Igbo falls flat; Ohnaeze says it’s disrespect

The one-term proposal by the technical committee fronting for DP presidential aspirant ex-V.P Atiku Abubakar may have made no impact on the target—the southeast.

The region’s leading cultural group, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has rejected the carrot.

Atiku has sought the region’s support with a V. slot and a hope of handing over to a candidate from the southeast after a single term.

Raymond Dokpesi, chairman of the technical committee, sold the idea days ago when he went for consultation in Abia.

Ohanaeze Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the offer was a collective disrespect to people of the southeast.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has declared openly that attempts to trick and entice the southeast with attractive offers from the ally of former Vice President and 2019 PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, Raymond Dokpesi to get southeast’s support for his principal (Atiku) in 2023 are hoaxes and collective disrespect on the sensibility of the people of southeast, no amount of enticing promises will make southeast to swap their right to 2023 presidency to anyone,” a statement Isiguzoro issued said.

“Atiku Abubakar’s refusal to adhere to a written request from Igbo elders for a Mandela option of a single tenure in 2019 will continue to haunt his 2023 presidential ambitions, instead.

“He replied to Igbo leaders in 2019 with his then six years economic blueprint for Nigeria (2020-2026) which was a clear understanding of having the ambition of a two-term as president if elected.

The Igbo group said Atiku’s economic blueprint then  is now contradictory to the recent request from his  ally for southeast’s support.

“No force can thwart the 2023 Igbo Presidency Project with vice presidential offer to the southeast, which is not feasible, as there will be a power shift from the North to the East in 2023,” the group said.

Atiku was able to cuddle the southeast in 2019, when the Igbo leaders of thought, including the octogenarian Prof Ben Nwabueze, embraced him as the messiah Nigeria needed then.

The next presidential race and its odds appear well stacked against the PDP stalwart in the southeast this time.