A chieftain of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo socio-political organisation, Chuks Ibegbu, has opened up on what should be expected from the Igbos if the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar chooses his running mate from the southeastern part of the country.
He said that the southeastern region will not reject the offer if the PDP flagbearer decides to select someone from the region as his running mate in 2023.
While addressing newsmen, the chieftain said that the region would also make consultations round if Atiku decides to pick an Igbo man.
The former Deputy Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo also revealed that the vice presidential seat is not the target of the southeast in 2023.
According to Ibegbu: “Atiku is at liberty to pick his Vice President from anywhere he likes, including the Southeast. Even if he wants to pick his running mate from Adamawa, no problem. Our people made up their minds that it’s the Presidency they want from the onset.
“We have occupied the Presidency, Vice Presidency, Senate President, and we are saying this is the right time to have political equity by allowing the Igbos to produce Nigeria’s President.
“Until such a time when Nigerians do not mind where the Presidency comes from and build an inclusive society that thinks more of merits, then things will be the way they are.
“Atiku picking his running mate from Igbo land is not what we planned for, but politics is a game of possibilities, so we can’t rule out such possibilities. And like I said, it’s not yet over as there are other possibilities. Still, if Atiku says he wants somebody from the Southeast to be my running mate, we won’t reject because politics is a game of possibilities.
“Our people will come back to analyze, dissect, digest, and know the implications. Don’t forget that there are people from the other side saying we don’t want to be part of this injustice in Nigeria.”
The Informant247 had reported that Abubakar Atiku has won the PDP’s presidential ticket ahead of the 2023 elections.
He has ever since then not chosen and announced his running mate in the presidential election.