Ukpor – Stakeholders in Anambra state, under the aegis of Anambra Elders and Stakeholders (ANELDERS) Forum for Good Governance on Monday, reiterated the need for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction come 2023.
In a communique issued after an enlarged executive meeting of the body held at Ukpor in Nnewi South Council Area of the State, the forum maintained that it is non-negotiable that the next president of Nigeria must come from the Southeast region.
Among those present at the meeting were First Republican Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, former Governor of the state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife who is the national leader of the forum, former Chief Judge of old Anambra state, Justice’ Anthony Iguh who is the national president, past Chief Judges of Anambra state, Justice G. U. Ononiba, Justice Paul Obidigwe and Justice Peter Umeadi.
Also in attendance were the National Vice President of the Forum, Justice Alpha Ikpeama; Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Anambra state chapter, Rev. Ndubuisi John, among others.
Condemning the new wave of insecurity in the area, ANELDERS praised the Southeast Governors for proposing a security outfit code named Ebube Agu, as well as its stand on open grazing, calling for full enforcement of the law.
The forum also urged the Southeast Governors to improve security architecture by encouraging the vigilante groups with adequate logistics as well as equipping schools and markets in the zone with CCTV and other surveillance gadgets.
It stressed the need for a clear leadership structure in Igboland to disproof the negative branding of Igbo as ‘Igbo Enweze’ (Igbo have no king).
While explaining that the Eastern Security Network (ESN) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPoB) was informed by lack of a regional security network, the forum called for thorough investigation into the recent insecurity in the area.
“We call on the federal government to carry out discreet investigations aimed at fishing out the perpetrators of these dastardly acts and bring them to book, rather than pointing accusing fingers at IPoB, thereby giving a dog bad name in order to hang it,” the forum added.
