Igbo living outside the South East, especially in the North have been called upon to remain calm and not shiver over the postponed election.
Speaking with newsmen in his palace, at Umuajata-Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, the President General of Igbo World Union (IWU), Amb. Mishak Nnanta expressed optimism that no uncertainties would be encountered in the rescheduled election and counselled Igbo not to panic about their safety in the place they sojourned, as election postponement is not a new thing in Nigeria. He cited the case of 2011 general election, which was also shifted.
He insisted that God knows why the election was postponed, saying had it been it was not shifted, no one knows the calamity that might have come with it.
He assured that when the election comes, it will be conducted in a conducive atmosphere and appealed to Igbo to support the Northerners complete their tenure of eight years.
He said Igbo supporting the North in 2019 presidential election, will, in no small measure guarantee 2023 presidency for the South East, recalling that he moved the campaign to dissuade Igbo from contesting the presidency with the North in 2019.
He decried the place of Igbo in the nation, pointing out that the first son (Igbo) of the family (Nigeria) are nowhere to be found in the family circle and called on them to wake up from their slumber, to take their rightful place.
He said the group does not believe in disintegration but harmony and oneness of Nigeria.
“Our time is in 2023, that is when Igbo will take their turn of the presidency.”
We should not join in the call for election boycott. It will be a setback for us. We should not create confusion but should come out en masse and vote for the candidate of our choice.
“We should also bear in mind that it is only God that determines a leader at every given point in time.”
He however, reminded Igbo that leadership is not an easy task and as such should always pray for President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to succeed, while commending Igbo who supported the group’s move to meet with the President over issues affecting the country, the place of Igbo in the country and the 2023 Igbo presidency agenda.
In their respective, the deputy transition committee chairman of Umuahia South Local Government Area, Chief Ikechi Nnanta, President General of Olokoro clan, Chief Patrick Okwuonu among others, appealed for more dividends of democracy in Olokoro community.