The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has declared that Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso does not have the competence to assess the Igbo, stressing that it does not reckon him as presidential material.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo revealed that Ndigbo was long prepared for the presidency of the country, insisting that any person that had done well in business will do well in any other venture.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo was reacting to Kwankwaso’s description of the Igbo nation as ‘politically immature to win the presidency,’ where he asserted that the highest political position Igbo could occupy in the country was the vice presidency.
However, while responding to the former governor of Kano, National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Alex Ogbonnia, stated that injustices and conspiracy of the political elite had denied Igbo opportunity to rule the country before now.
He insisted that the Igbo remained part of the country’s best in politics, technology, economy, sports, education and several other fields and have continued to contribute to the success of every administration in the country.
Ogbonnia explained that the long hatred shown to Ndigbo by the rest of the country had not dwarfed their successes in various endeavours, stressing that had the people of the zone received as much support as other zones had received, it would be difficult for any section of the country to compete with it.
He added: ‘Kwankwaso’s description is unfortunate. He does not know Igbo and lacks the capacity to assess its people. Such a comment is not expected of a presidential candidate. It is not expected of a candidate of a political party.
‘I do not think he has evidence to back his position because as far as I know, Igbo have been the pillar that has helped this country to survive so far. He should know that any person who can do well in business and live in any part of the country can succeed as president. Igbo understand this country and can do better if given the opportunity.
‘Kwankwaso cannot be said to be the best material the country can have when issues of the presidency are discussed. Except for our parochial nature and the kind of politics we have in Nigeria, I do not think that our competence should be in doubt at any time.
‘So, we advise him to come off that mindset and pursue issues that will help this country come out of its present quagmire. It is not the Igbo that put the country in its present mess,’ he said.
A chieftain of LP in Anambra State, Chief Dons Uzor, stated that Kwankwaso’s statement was made in a bad light, insisting that it shows a “man without agenda for the presidency.
