2023: North Doesn’t Need Your Deceptive Prostration, CNG Replies Ezeife

The Coalition of Northern Groups, Monday, reacted to a recent comment by a former governor of Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, that the Southeast is ‘prepared to kneel or bow before every ethnic group to clinch the 2023 presidency’.

The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, described Ezeife’s statement as ‘no more than deception’.

Mr Suleiman said, “The Igbo have by their conduct denied themselves the opportunity to be trusted with power in the nearest future. The bitter truth is that no matter how low the Igbo are willing to go or how long they are willing to keep their knees on the ground, it will be unreasonable to expect other Nigerian tribes, not least the North, to risk entrusting the presidency in them.

“It is said that once bitten, twice shy, and the current northern thinking is beyond the repeated deceptions such as this one by the Igbo which at every turn results in tragedy.

“We see the recent belated desperation by the Igbo as nothing but an afterthought that is downright unacceptable. It is deceptive for them to make such overtures after having encouraged and supported Nnamdi Kanu and the atrocities committed against other Nigerians, particularly northerners by his IPOB.

“If the Igbo must prostrate to anyone, they should prostrate to Kanu as the North has come of age and shall not be deceived or fooled any longer.”

On ways for the Igbo to get the support of northerners ahead of the 2023 presidential election, Mr Suleiman told THE WHISTLER exclusively that, “They should withdraw permanently their secession agenda and let the nation move on.

“They can’t be pursuing a disruptive and destructive distabilization goal that has created distrust for 60 years and just turn round, and say they want to be trusted with power. Those who come to equity must come with clean.

“The North has been open from the outset. We collectively rejected Boko Haram; no northerner blinked when Shekau was killed. In fact, we all wanted him dead.

“The bandits are being killed daily, and we’re happy and wish them wiped out. Notice the difference from the calibre of leaders who still openly support Kanu.”