The 5th World Igbo Summit held from January 2 to January 4, 2020, at Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State, rose with a demand that political parties in the countries should field only Igbo presidential candidates in 2023.

“The leadership of all political parties, should as a matter of justice, equity and fairness,

cede the nomination of their Presidential candidates to the South-East,” according to the communiqué signed by former Ambassador to the United States of America, Amb. Prof. George Obiozor, and National Coordinator, World Igbo Summit and Director-General, World Igbo Summit Group (WISG), Dr. Ifedi Okwenna.

The communiqué decided that “Ndi Igbo should pursue both restructuring of Nigeria and emergence of Nigerian President of Igbo extraction as both are not mutually exclusive.”

“Other ethnic nationalities and zones, should as a matter of justice, equity and fairness,

support the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023,” the commuinique also said.

It listed other resolutions as follows:

“That the President-General should in consultation with Ime-obi constitute a Pan-Igbo organizing Committee to develop and pursue a sustainable strategic plan of action for the “handshake outreach” across Nigeria.

“The handshake programme should cumulate in a grand finale during which the harmonized positions of the alliance zones would be adopted and publicized as a basis of a joint bill of the people to the National Assembly to pass into law and use as a document for convoking a national conference for restructuring.

“The alliance zones would use the harmonized positions to commence the arduous task of lobbying and working with politicians, political parties, interest groups and other stakeholders to come on board the movement for restructured Nigeria.

“On its part, Ohanaeze Ndigbo will sustain a vigorous publicity, press campaigns,

sustained education and mobilization of the electorates and encourage peaceful mass

rallies in support of the restructuring project.

“In pursuit of these demands and rights, all these resolutions will be done in accordance

with the principles of municipal and international laws and best practices.”

Among those in attendance at the summit were Chief John Nnia Nwodo, the President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd), former Chief of General Staff; Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Senate President and Secretary to the Federal Government; Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, former Governor of Anambra State; Prof Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State; Prof Chinedu Nebo, former Minister of Power and Vice-Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Federal University Oye Ekiti; and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, among others.

The keynote address was delivered by Ambassador Humphrey Orjako, former Permanent Representative of Nigeria to United Nations and other International organisations at Geneva and Ambassador to Switzerland.

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