You could lose 2023 presidency to South-West, Ngige warns Igbos

Dr Chris Ngige has warned the Igbos against losing the 2023 presidency to South-West, with their decision in the 2019 election.

Ngige who spoke in Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State on Sunday, said President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection was the South-East’s shortest route to the presidency.

While the people of the zone have failed in their bid to have one of their own as the leader of the country since the return of democratic rule in 1999, the Minister of Labour and Employment believes they have a chance to grab the post if they play their cards right in the 2019 general elections.

Ngige who warned the Igbos against losing the 2023 presidency to South-West, said;

He said, “This man (Buhari) has only one term (four years) to do and go home, and an Igboman will replace him. But if you leave this shortest route and take a gamble, you are on your own.”

He added, “If Igbo refuse to play their cards right in next year’s general elections, the South-West will take away the chance from them.

“They will produce the next president after Buhari, because the zone has shown demonstrable commitment to Buhari’s cause.

“My good friend Babatunde Fashola has blown the whistle. What he said should be a warning signal to the Igbo, because you can’t stop the South-West from producing the next president of the country after supporting Buhari and the APC government.

“That is why I’m telling our people now to come out en masse in next year’s election and vote for Buhari, so that nothing will stop you from succeeding him in 2023.”

Ngige who claimed that the Vice-presidential slot given to the Igbo by the Peoples Democratic Party was a “mere spare tyre that might be used for over six years”, further stated that it is not true that Buhari hates the Igbo, stressing that the late Dr Chuba Okadigbo, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke and others were close friends with the President.

The Minister further stated that Buhari government had provided infrastructure in the South-East, and so deserve their support.