‘Massive’ Benefits Await Igbo If Buhari Is Re-elected President – VON DG

Mr Osita Okechukwu, Voice of Nigeria’s Director-General, has warned the Igbo ethnic extraction that voting against President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 means postponing “the golden opportunity” that awaits it if the president is re-elected in 2019.

Okechukwu, who said this in Enugu on Sunday, was reacting to a statement credited to the Ohanaeze Ndigbo that its decision on who to support in 2019 would be hinged on the candidate it perceives would restructure Nigeria.

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The VON DG advised the Ndigbo not to miss its shot at the 2023 Presidency and ‘restructuring’, which he claimed was already on President Buhari’s agenda.

Okechukwu said, “Restructuring is not a one-day event, but the golden opportunity of Buhari being the only northerner, going by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the zoning convention, with only four years that ends in 2023 is a matter of fact.

“Voting for any other northerner means postponement of the golden opportunity which Mr President’s re-election offers Ndigbo.

“Restructuring is already on the cards of our party, the APC. Definitely, some items will be restructured before the 2019 general elections, going by the Mallam Nasir el-Rufai committee’s recommendations.”

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“Secondly, Ndigbo stand to benefit immensely from Buhari’s massive critical infrastructure – roads, rails, and agriculture and power projects.

“As one of the most hard-working and entrepreneurial people in Nigeria, we stand no doubt to gain from the 5,000 kilometres of federal roads, 5,000 kilometres of standard gauge rail lines, agrarian revolution and additional 5,000 megawatts of electricity, with a complete cycle of three to five years,” he said.

On if Buhari would field an Igbo candidate in 2023, Okechukwu said, “It is not only about Buhari’s backing, it is more about paradigm shift in the voting pattern of Ndigbo in 2019, which signposts realignment of political forces.

“The Igbo, since 1999, have religiously been voting for the Peoples Democratic Party, without commensurate results. Common sense dictates a paradigm shift in our voting pattern in 2019.

“Buhari in 2003 and 2007 had Igbo sons as running mates – Chuba Okadigbo and Edwin Umezoke of the blessed memory. Yet, we failed to vote for him.

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“To align with the mainstream, we should vote for him now. He subscribes to equity and justice and cannot jeopardise the chances of a credible Igbo candidate who can appeal to our brothers and sisters in other regions, especially the South-West and South-South,” he said.

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