Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has revealed that he was ‘seriously consulting’ to run for President in 2023 and would make his decision known to Nigerians in a matter of weeks.
The former Governor of Anambra State made this revelation during an appearance Channels Television’s Politics Today which was monitored by Africa Daily News, New York on Thursday.
When asked if he would run for President in the next general elections, he said; ‘I told my constituents that were urging me on last December that I will do some consultation and that I will speak to them in April, during Easter. So I am doing my consultations’.
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The Minister went on to add that he was ‘qualified’ to be President although he is yet to inform President Muhammadu Buhari.
He pointed out that some Nigerians, including a former Inspector-General of Police, have asked him to run and he might be heeding their calls in the coming days.
Amid speculations of a South-East Presidency, Mr Ngige however clarified that he wasn’t running based on regional sentiments.
‘If I’m going to run, I won’t run because I’m Igbo,’ he said. ‘I will run as Chris Nwabueze Ngige, a Nigerian citizen, from the South-East of Nigeria, precisely Anambra State, and from a local government called Idemilli South and a town called Alor.
‘I am not going to wear a toga of Igbo President. I’m of Igbo extraction but very qualified to be President of Nigeria.’
Meanwhile many Nigerians have added their voices to the ongoing discussions about actualising South East Presidency in 2023 and Africa Daily News, New York can confirm that Ngige is often mentioned when names are being bandied. Amongst other names who are being considered are Peter Obi, David Umahi, Kingsley Moghalu, Orji Uzor Kalu and a hos of many others.
AFRICA DAILY NEWS, NEW YORK
