By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)

The common claims by some Nigerians of other ethnic groups that Igbos are not competent enough to provide credible leadership to Nigeria has been described as political antics just to deny the Igbos their turn to be president of Nigeria.

Speaking on Arise TV, on Thursday, February 3, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former governor of Enugu state and a one time National Chairman and National Secretary of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), said that such notions are designed simply to perpetuate political injustices against the Igbos.

Nwodo said that the Igbos have demonstrated more love and sacrifices for the unity of Nigeria than any other tribe.

According to him, in 1999, when two frontline Igbo politicians, late Dr. Alex Ekwueme and Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu were poised to emerge presidential candidates of their respective parties, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the then All People Party (APP), they were made to concede their ambitions to assuage the injustice allegedly done to the South West geo-political zone of Nigeria for the annulment of June 12 presidential elections, perceived to have been won by late MKO Abiola.

He said, it was such sacrifices made by the Igbos for the unity and peace of Nigeria that produced Olusegun Obasanjo and Olu Falae, all from the South West, as presidential candidates of their respective political parties. Nwodo stated that after Obasanjo eight years tenure, and in order to assuage the feelings of the North for keeping them out of power for eight years, president Umaru Musa Yar'Adua was brought in to fill the position for the North.

Nwodo said Goodluck Jonathan was also considered in the same feelings to calm the nerves of the Niger Delta, stating that all these arrangements were made to establish that the nation has a conscience. He therefore wondered "why the same conscience takes a flight when it gets to the turn of the Igbos."

Nwodo who stated that Nigeria needs a presidential candidate with integrity, one who will show clear economic road map to Nigeria, a candidate who can communicate, harness the economic diversities and potentials of the country, assured that the former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, among other Igbos who have declared interest in the presidency of Nigeria, is eminently qualified to provide such leadership.

He said that Anyim, having served as President of the Senate and Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), has gotten all the exposure and requisite experience to fit into the description he made above and to govern Nigeria with the stated qualities. He maintained that there are other eminently qualified Igbos like Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Peter Obi, etc, who to rule Nigeria.

"We have materials. We have people who have demonstrated credible leadership credentials in the past, wondering what were the crimes of the Igbos if we cannot be considered fit to govern Nigeria," said Nwodo.

He posited that the North East has a commission just to heal the wounds and that Niger Delta Commission and amnesty programs were also created just to heal the wounds. Nwodo asserted that Nigeria indeed owes South East a lot.

According to him, the South East ought to be the first to deserve Economic Commission, just as has been done to the North East and Niger Delta, saying, why is it that when it comes to South East, equity, fairness etc takes a flight?

There's no way we can sustain a six geo-political zone with injustice, unfair treatment and denial of rights to one and expect same not to complain, Nwodo posited. NNL.