The Igbo Renaissance Circle (IRC), a pan-Igbo political think-tank, has argued that the need for a President of Igbo extraction in 2023 is why South-East governors still support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.

The Chairman of the Strategic Committee of IRC, Chief Okoroafor Ezechi, disclosed this to newsmen in Enugu on Wednesday.

Ezechi noted that the 2023 presidency remains the driving force behind the reason why even governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the zone are, according to him, supporting President Buhari’s second term in office.

He said: “We are tired of pledges, especially when the Atiku Plan [Atiku’s manifesto] is a six- year plan. We sincerely hold the view that 2023 is the turn of Ndigbo.

“For us, Buhari’s four years post-2019 presidential election, is cast in constitutional stone and our vote for him will simulate support from the 10-12 million vote-bank of President Buhari.”

Okoroafor noted that going by critical thinking and observation so far, Buhari would stand on his words in allowing free and fair elections at all levels since “he is a man of impeccable integrity and forthrightness.

“One, Buhari is a man of his word. Two, the Smart Card Reader does not condone such tricks of writing results in hotel rooms. Three, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (All Progressives Congress national chairman) had wittingly forced our unwillingness to factionalised the APC in the zone.”

According to Ezechi, 2023 is gaining extensive ground among Ndigbo on bi-partisan and extra-cathedral axis.

“The South-East governors, in support of President Buhari’s re-election, are fighting for our children, not personal interest.

“Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and Gov Dave Umahi can win on their own; and Gov. Willy Obiano is not running,” he said.

When confronted with news in one of the national newspapers that the South-East governors are reconsidering at least 25 per cent exchange of vote deal with Buhari, after a meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flagbearer, Atiku Abubakar, in Enugu, Ezechi said: “Yes, there was a kind of fire-fighting meeting with South-East governors.

“But no concrete deal was reached as Atiku did not make any commitment to exit in 2023.”

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