The apex Igbo sociocultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has declared that rotational presidency in the country without restructuring of the polity will amount to window dressing.
Ohanaeze also affirmed that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi has the constitutional right and choice to be Nigeria’s president if he wins.
National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Dr. Ezechi Chukwu disclosed this in an exclusive interview with LEADERSHIP in Enugu.
It will recalled that Ohanaeze has been clamouring for a restructured Nigeria where the federating units will control their resources for the development of their areas.
Ezechi emphasised that there was need for the centre to be unbundled to enable the federating units have more financial, economic and political autonomy.
Ohanaeze spokesman also stressed the need for government to be closer to the people, hence the need for the unbundling of the center.
“Rotational presidency without restructuring of the polity will only amount to window-dressing.
‘”The centre needs to be unburdened to enable the federating units have more financial, economic/political autonomy, by virtue of having governance closer to the people,” he stated.
Speaking on Obi’s choice pledge of a one-term tenure, Ezechi noted that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is not into partisan politics or an ally of any political party.
He however emphasised that any Nigerian has the constitutional right to vie for any elective office within the provisions of the constitution if he or she so wishes.
Ezechi noted that the question of second term is immaterial because the 1999 constitution, as amended, does not provide for automatic eight-year tenure.
“What the constitution provides for is a four-year term and maximum of two terms. Hence, if Peter Obi prefers to go for a term because he feels it is enough for him to implement his programme that is absolutely his constitutional right and choice”.
