The ability and sometimes, desperation to pick ourselves up after a fall is somewhat of reflexive behavior. This has a figurative application in our everyday lives and sometimes, a literal one. Similarly, politics is no exception. As a matter of fact, one can say that the four-year democratic system was put in place in line with this ideology. It’s largely a simple contract.

An administration has four years to positively impact its community and win the recognition of its people. If they fail, it is the responsibility of the next administration to pick things off but this cycle has been daunting for the people of Nigeria, as we tend to recycle leaders in the name of factors like region, religion, etc. yet the country remains far behind in the league of prosperous republics. We end up anticipating the next election, same year an incumbent assumes office, with hopes that our kinsman would be the next office holder.

The case of the Igbos is however unique as they appear to be the only one among the major ethnic groups in the country yet to produce a President or Vice President in the fourth republic. While many often argue that the Igbos are always divided, many have opined that the major challenge may be the failure of its leaders of thoughts to quietly strategise ahead of a coming election to bring the dream to fruition. And so, year-in, year out, it has become a norm to hear political actors declare that the next election would be the turn of the Igbos.

This development played out on social media today as a former Governor of Enugu, James Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo while speaking during a chieftaincy ceremony in Enugu, said it was non-negotiable that the next President of the country should be of Igbo descent, stressing that anyone who doesn’t buy into the idea does not wish Nigeria well. He also stated that support from other regions to make an Igbo person, president would be paramount to the progressive growth of the country.

2023 Igbo Presidency non-negotiable, says Nwobodo – https://t.co/XiOuVIPD8h pic.twitter.com/A0RJu1f32n

— AbujapeopleOfficial (@AbujapeopleO) June 23, 2020

 

His statement sparked a wave of responses, from people believing that he may be right:

If we don't start planning for the 2023 presidency now, the people you don't like would plan it for you
#TuesdayThoughts

— Uncle Majek Fashek (@ij_kush) June 23, 2020

To people who believe that the tension amongst Eastern leaders wouldn’t allow the plan work.

2023 presidency,A president from East is impossible.who among the igbo politicians are we going to snd that can stand for us..non they have been quiet to all the injustice against us,they re snakes.we shouldn't care about the origin of the nxt person except restructuring

— Newbaba99 (@Newmanosita99) June 23, 2020

Here are some more reactions:

Jim Nwobodo says 2023 presidency belongs to the Igbo. Even thier people from the East are not ready. They're only interested in business. So who is Nwobodo speaking for?

— GA (@adeagbo_gbadebo) June 23, 2020

2023 Presidency belongs to Ndigbo — Jim Nwobodo says
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Its not our immediate problem..we need two innosons in each state..total control of pharmaceuticals in West africa. etc.
Please go back to sleep ..we need an economic biafra within a poltiical nigeria pic.twitter.com/rKcD2kIVxN

— Benjamin Amaechi 2 (@2_amaechi) June 23, 2020

What I have to say about the 2023 presidency is that they should give us someone that doesn't have his name already in government textbook.

— El-Muhammed Omoniyi (@IamOhmai) June 23, 2020

If political power can lift people out of POVERTY, the #North will have the RICHEST people in #Africa. That #Ndigbo turned £20 in 1970 to TRILLIONS today proves that poverty ends ONLY through private enterprise & hard work. So, why the desperation over #2023Presidency?

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) June 21, 2020

“How can you think we will cede power to the South in 2023? The North still want the presidency. The south is in charge of the economy and they have everything, so why would they want to take away the only thing we have.” Arewa Youths

Me: where are the Tinubu 2023 hailers?

— Jackson Ude (@jacksonpbn) June 16, 2020

What do you think?