A group on Tuesday took the Governor of Rivers State, Nyeson Wike to the cleaners over his suspicious agenda to contest for President in 2023 describing his perceived ambition as a fraud on the entire Igbo race.
The South East Patriots [SEP] at the maiden press conference convened by Sir. Obunike Ohaegbu, said the presidential ambition of anybody from South West, South-South and North West is displaying crass insensitivity to the agitation of South-East to lead the country.
The Convener of the group asked the governor of Rivers State to clarify his statement that the next President should be from the South demanding that Governor Wike should make a categorical statement on which zone from the South should produce the president in 2023.
Obunike said, “We believe that it is insensitive to the agitation of the South East for anyone from the South-South or South-West to present themselves for the presidency at this time.
“We in the SEP will consider such aspiration as being OFFENSIVE to the sensitivities of the people of the South East.
“We consider it a fraud on the people of the South East in particular and Nigeria in general.
“Worse still, it would be ridiculous and totally self-serving if Governor Wike presents himself for the 2023 Presidential Election. We strongly plead and say, WIKE, DO NOT RUN.
He added, “We need to categorically repeat that we in SEP are committed to ensuring the emergence of the President of Nigeria from the South-East extraction in 2023.
“However, we are also aware that nobody from the North East has led Nigeria since 1970.
“Therefore, we call on Nigeria to concede the Presidency to both Zones (ie South-East & North-East).
“We also call on leaders from the North East and South East to, as a matter of urgency, begin discussions and negotiations on how both zones will take (alternate) shots at the Presidency and who does the same now.”
