An Address Presented by Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, IWA Chairman to Nigerians
…Nigerian Inter-Ethnic Nationalities dialogue, Presidency of Igbo extraction, 2023
We are working together toward improving the lives of our people through collaborative efforts with all stakeholders; Nigerian inter-ethnic nationalities and otherwise.
We want a true democracy, which means freedom for fellow Nigerians and by extension, Africa, as a whole. Our history in Nigeria clearly shows that Ndi-Igbo has always stood for democracy and fair play for all. We do not believe or promote religious-based politics and/or ideology. We want a Nigeria where the majority’s right is balanced with the minority’s right. A true Nigerian experiment, inclusive of all Nigerians regardless of their section of origin.
We want a Nigeria where the various ethnic groups feel that they have a stake in the future of the country. We envision a Nigeria where leadership is based on the ability to work hard, where fairness reigns, accountability the measure of our national character and those privileged to hold power understand the true meaning of “Public Trust”.
We envision a Nigeria where every Nigerian feels a sense of belonging and not marginalized. Where the governed have trust in the governance and the governed truly believe that they can vote, and be voted in to serve their country regardless of their ethnic and/or religious background.
Our vision is Nigeria for Nigerians, irrespective of what sides of the isles they come from. A Nigeria where ethnic diversity is seen as strength to be harnessed and celebrated as part of our rich heritage. Equity, fairness the guiding principle for a just society that we envision.
Ndi-Igbo for the record are known for their inclusiveness and fairness unmatched by none. Ndi-Igbo are likely to harness our rich diverse heritage when it comes to sharing power and /or political appointments. Ndi-Igbo are most likely to see strength in the rich diverse ethnic nationalities of a united Nigeria. We only want a fair share and equitable society for all. Our vision is fair, just and equitable country where every Nigerian, irrespective of the section of Nigeria they come from would be happy to identify themselves as “a Nigerian’.
Ndi-Igbo are builders and not breakers. We will provide leadership with strategic vision that will take Nigeria to great heights and not one that is visionless. We do not take peoples’ land by force. If we obtain land, it is based on legal and legitimate purchases with the consent of the local owners. We do not rape women or kidnap people or kill innocent people in any area of Nigeria or anywhere. We respect the local leaders/authorities and we pay taxes as required in any area by the local powers that be.
This belief system is deeply rooted in meritocracy; a system that gives opportunities and advantages to people on the basis of their ability and not on the basis of their wealth or seniority. This belief system, my friends, is the basis for our refusal to accept mediocrity. Mediocrity has no place in any progressive democracy.
We believe in competition and excellence. Let’s make our children superstars through competitions and excellence with the rest of the world. Our children are equal to the task of making Nigeria great. Nigerian children in America rank between 1%-5% in academics or job performances. Let us raise stars not Agberos or Amajeres or Itibolibo. Ndi-Igbo are egalitarian by nature. We believe that all people are, in principle, equal and should enjoy equal social, political, and economic rights and opportunities. We do not believe in murdering or attacking others, visitors, guests, or strangers in our midst. Ndi-Igbo are among the most welcoming, friendly, hospitable and tolerant and freedom loving people on earth. Our renowned hospitality, friendship and welcoming nature are highlighted on our use of “Kola nut” to symbolize our warmness, friendship, and universal brotherhood to all.
This attribute is epitomized in common Igbo aphorism that states, “Nwanne di na mba” meaning that a stranger from a foreign land also suffices as a brother or a sister. This Igbo mantra of “Nwanne di na mba” enables us as Ndi Igbo to establish anywhere in the world as our home and enables us to welcome anybody in our midst. This attitude of Ndi Igbo is so ingrained in us that it could be misconstrued as an anomaly or illness by others.
A FUTURE NIGERIA NEEDS the following done very quickly or it will be too late for all:
- Respect for our Constitution and Rule of law
- Respect for Human Right and Civil Rights
- Respect for the Federal Character Commission Rules in the 1979 constitution
- Implementation of Restructuring, Regionalization and Devolution of Powers expressed in a new Nigerian constitution.
- Merit Based Appointment to Government Positions. We condemn the current nepotistic practice of appointing people from the leaders’ village or geographic area to all the strategic positions e.g., Military, Police, Custom and Judiciary).
- Firm Knowledge and Competent Management of Nigeria’s Economy. Many foreign companies are moving their investments to Ghana, Kenya, South Africa and Rwanda due to massive corruption, incompetence and nepotism in our government. No foreign businesses or countries want to deal with Nigeria or be with us due to our corrupt ways.
- We need equitable infrastructure development throughout Nigeria. Why are we building a railway road for Niger Republic when several Nigerian states don’t have railways?
Nigeria has six regions and one was missing in a national railway plan while nobody cares. Incidentally, Igbos who reside in the east are the most itinerant in the country and would benefit most from a national transport plan. President Buhari changed the plan to include his village but a major zone of the country was not included. it was only the South East that was conspicuously missing in the new railway plan of the Federal Government.
- We need equal and equitable treatment of all Nigerian regardless of tribes of origins or religion. We must acknowledge our Nigeria is a creation of Britain not God, for their own economic exploitation and not for the benefit of the indigenous people, it can only endure in the long term under mutually beneficial terms. A proverb says that, if you are holding someone on the ground, you are also holding yourself on the ground. No one progresses.
- We demand an elimination of ethnic cleansing or genocide in the Nigerian political space. There is a big need to provide good security in Nigeria. We want very good security for all Nigerians. This should be our national priority.
- We demand free and fair electoral process and not rigging of elections. We want the best person chosen by the people to win.
We need to implement the items enumerated above because we are at the eleventh hour and it is almost too late for a united Nigeria. Time is not on our side for a united Nigeria. If we cannot accomplish these quickly, a referendum might be needed so that all the major Nigerian groups can go their separate ways through self-determination. We need a peaceful resolution of these urgent requests and not another civil war.
2023 ELECTIONS: SOUTH EAST PRESIDENCY
South-Easterners had contributed greatly to the development of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, intellect and business. It was time to give an Igbo person, the chance to build Nigeria to the standard God want. God created Nigeria to develop into a major power among nations and raise respect and dignity for all blacks on earth. One of the ways to achieve the feats the nation wanted is to carry everybody along without discrimination.
Nigeria is huge enough for everybody, Nigeria has the capacity to hold everybody, Nigeria has the intellectuals, Nigeria has all it takes to lift the county, all we are asking for is to give southeast zone a chance to lead and rise Nigeria, Africa up in the world standing.
All the regions of Nigeria have produced Presidents and it is now the turn of the South East region to provide good leadership for the good of all Nigerians so as to move Nigeria in a positive direction. We should be our brother’s keeper. For the good of Nigeria, we believe our geopolitical interest should extend to ethnic regions in Nigeria that aspires to its mission of uniting all Nigeria of like minds, through the concept of “standing together for the betterment of the entire Nigeria.
The zone of South-East that has not tasted the Presidency should move to the front of the line for their opportunity to participate in the leadership process. The rising attacks on security agencies are outsiders and not Ndi-Igbo. (Unknown Gun Man (UGM) in the South-East is very dangerous and not good. The UGM are not Igbos but their activities might be linked with the clamor of the zone to produce the next Nigerian President come 2023.
It is the turn of the South-East zone to produce the next Nigerian President and we are warning that nobody should hide under insecurity to deny the SE zone of what rightfully belongs to it. We are of the firm belief that the main justification for rotation/zoning of Presidential Power is borne out of the skewed nature of the Nigerian fraudulent 1999 constitution of the Nigerian federation, where one side of the country, through the unjust manner states and local Government creations have been created, is now positioned to produce the nation’s President in perpetuity.
Only rotation/zoning of presidential power can rebalance the country before the next general election so that universal adult suffrage can make sense.
We insist that it would be unjustifiable and insensitive for the North to retain power in 2023 and urged all patriots and men and women of goodwill in all parts of country to ensure that rotation/zoning of Presidential Power in 2023 by electing a President from the Southern part of Nigeria.
The basis of any viable democracy, especially in a diverse and complex country such as Nigeria, rests in fair and even sharing of power. Our position is that since the Northern part of the country would have fully enjoyed the office of the President for the full statutory period of 8 years by 2023, presidential power ought to be yielded to the South and South East zone in particular in the spirit of unity and equity.
We are aware of the surreptitious moves to lure Southern political leaders to accept their parties’ positions of National Chairman and Vice President, especially in the main political parties.
Those contemplating on accepting such Greek gifts need to be reminded that such move would foreclose the chances of the Southeast in producing Nigeria’s president in 2023. It is therefore an act of betrayal that will undermine the collective quest for a Southeast President. We urge all political parties to zone its presidential candidates to the south and south east in particular.
During the anti-Abacha struggle for Nigeria’s return to civil rule in the nineties, prominent Igbos were among the key drivers of NADECO and other related civil movements. Igbos got themselves deeply involved, even to the extent of risking self-exile or jail terms and many of them were indeed victimized.
After a vigorous struggle, democracy was eventually restored in 1999. As a way of compensation for their past and present losses, the 2023 presidential ticket should be unconditionally zoned to Igbos and the southeast region.
The political understanding to compensate the South West region of the country, following the annulment of the 1993 presidential elections won by late Bashorun M K O Abiola and his subsequent death in detention while insisting on actualizing his mandate gave birth to the idea of rotational presidency between the north and the south of the country.
General Olusegun Obasanjo, a beneficiary of that understanding completed his two terms in 2007 and handed over to a northerner, Alhaji Umoru Yar’Adua who died in office while his Vice from the south, Dr Goodluck Jonathan did a term but failed a re-election and paved the way for a northern president, General Muhammadu Buhari who will finish his second term in 2023. Buhari is the President today because of that rotational arrangement. So, Obasanjo of the west was compensated, North was also compensated.
In regard to the president’s competence and integrity. We still believe that we can mix merit and zoning side by side. So, zoning in principle is a good thing in our polity and we recommend same for the Presidency.
Indeed, the ideal scenario is to look at integrity and vision of the aspirant. But pragmatism is usually the enemy of principle and as such that idealistic scenario cannot work in practical terms in Nigeria with over 250 ethnic groups living in mutual suspicion since 1960.
Ideally, merit should be the determining factor, but this is a federation that is lopsided, where 88 items are put in exclusive list, a federation that has almost become a centralized nation.
So, for that reason, there had to be guarantees that would ensure fairness, equality, equity and justice and that is why the concept of zoning and rotation comes at this level and to ignore those two criteria, is to be inviting crisis and I don’t think Nigeria needs it.
For now, until we reach that level of development, where the religion and ethnic base of the president won’t matter as he would be expected to do justice to all, rotation and zoning would have to be allowed. Or until we have a truly federal constitution, where the federal government would have only about 12 items on its function, it won’t matter who is the president.
We are talking about the various ethnic groups, who want Nigeria to stay together. How can anybody who loves this country talk of the Presidency going to the South West in 2023? Why should you exclude the South East? Is South East not part of Nigeria? “South West has had, South South has had, the North has had, why exclude the South East if you want us to be here.
The truth is that the Yoruba Nation have had their fair share of power since 1999, with eight years of former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Professor Yemi Osibanjo who would be completing eight years as Vice President in 2023 under Buhari’s presidency. It will be unfair, unjust and unpatriotic as well as against the national spirit and interest to deny Ndigbo their own opportunity and pretend as if they do not exist as part of Nigerian nation.
Ndi-Igbo waited patiently and cooperatively for the Southern Zones-South West and South South to have their opportunities to produce the country’s Presidents. The overwhelming majority of Ndigbo do not believe in secession or separatism from Nigeria. A Nigerian President of Igbo extraction will focus on what can be done to improve Nigeria for all people, instead of arguing over what is impossible in a united Nigeria.
Indeed, there is no doubt that in the history of Nigeria from Nnamdi Azikiwe to the present, Ndi-Igbo have demonstrated the highest virtues of patriotism and genuine nationalistic propensities. By history and character, what defines Ndigbo is friendliness and peaceful coexistence with others regardless of tribe, religion or race, Ndigbo are market people, travelers, entrepreneurs or business men.
Patriotic Nigerians at home and abroad who understand the fundamental issues in 2023 Presidency understand also the historic imperative of zoning the Presidency to the South East, the last zone and only the zone left out in Southern Nigeria in the First round of the Presidency across the country. It is politically wise and reasonable, morally justifiable and defensible and patriotically persuasive for all the parties to zone the Presidency to the South East.
South Easterners are insisting on the Presidency and are not ready to take the vice-presidential slot. We state that it’s either the presidency or nothing for the South East in 2023.
We are reiterating our position about Presidency of Nigeria of SE extraction. We ask that all political parties should zone Nigerian presidency to SE/Nigeria zone in 2023 and all efforts should be geared to achieving that goal. We state categorically, that only restructuring can prevent Nigeria from disintegration.
In light of all the above outlined narratives, I am taking the liberty to create an exploratory team to seriously look into the viabilities of declaring my candidacy for a presidential run in 2023.
I am a simple man that is driven by the desire to give the youth, the nation’s children what we had growing up. A sense of self-worth and the belief that the sky is the limit when it comes to the ability to excel.
It’s always good to take a stand for what you believe in. Our country is snappishly divided across sections. No one group identifies itself as “Nigerian”. It’s time we reflect on the great Martin Luther King Juniors quote; “we either succeed together as brothers and sisters, or perish together as fool”.
If I eventually run and potentially win, I will work my hardest to create jobs where there is no job, and every step of the way, I will work with industries to create internships that will help our young graduate currently roaming the street unemployed.
Igbo Kwenu! Long live Nigeria!
Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, MD, MPH, MBA
IWA Chairman
CISA Chairman Board of Presidents/Representatives
ASA Worldwide Chairman
Onowu Abagana of Abagana Royal Council
Omeligbo na Agulerie
Ife Ndiigbo na Nri Kingdom
Ike Ndiigbo na Iduu Eri Kingdom
Okala madu na okala muo
Contact
Nwachukwu Anakwenze MD, MPH, MBA
Cell Phone 310-993-8053
Email: [email protected]
