Biafra agitation can scuttle Igbo presidency – APC

The South-East All Progressives Congress (APC) has appealed to pro-Biafra agitators and groups embarking on mass protest in the zone to stop the action so as not to jeopardize the quest for Nigeria president of Igbo extraction in 2023.
Spokesman of South-East APC leadership caucus, Mr Osita Okechukwu, in a statement yesterday particularly appealed to Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and similar groups to stop mass action and beating drums of war in the overall interest of the Ndigbo at home, across the country and abroad.
He stressed that every rational indicator favoured Ndigbo, and advised them to guard against hate propaganda and wait ‘patiently’ to harvest the turn of the South East.
“Whereas we agree that there is gross unemployment, discontent and despondency among youths in the land, however, it is not peculiar to the South East alone. The gross unemployment is nationwide and would be addressed holistically. Luckily, our son, distinguished Senator Chris Ngige is the minister in charge of employment.
“As our record shows it’s better to jaw-jaw than to war-war. Dialogue is the best solution, albeit we are doing relatively well across the country and our human development index is one of the highest,” the statement added.
Okechukwu, who said Ndigbo must be strategic in their agitation, noted that they could be one of the greatest beneficiaries of the ‘progressive and prosperous Nigeria’ being constructed by President Muhammadu Buhari, going by available evidence.
He said this was not the best of times to hype the agitation for Biafra because President Buhari had pledged to resuscitate the dilapidated federal roads in the South East, revamp Enugu Coal, fix 2nd Niger Bridge and other physical infrastructure.
“For Mr. President, his word is his bond. Critical analysis posits that after his second tenure, it will be the turn of the South East to produce Nigeria’s president of Igbo extraction.
“Is it not paradoxical that the Pro-Biafra agitators were not this hyper-active in the 16 years when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a party Ndigbo gave unprecedented and overwhelming support, without commensurate reward, was in power at the centre?,” he asked.
The APC  chieftain said he was optimistic that the presidency would rotate to the South-East in 2023 “going by the zoning convention, equity and natural justice”.