IGBO’LL BID FOR 2019 PRESIDENCY –NWABUEZE

Hopes of a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction was rekindled yesterday with eminent constitutional lawyer and elder statesman, Prof Ben Nwabueze expressing optimism that the Igbo would become president after President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
Nwabueze, who raised this hope yesterday at the 16th Annual National Convention of the Igbo Youth Movement (IYM) held at the Nike Lake Hotel, Abuja, said if the bid fails  in 2019, it would be achieved  in 2023.
Nwabueze said it was high time Igbo began to search for new set of leaders  as himself and former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, who also attended the event, were fast ageing.
“Our generation is passing away, I will be 85 years and Ide (Dr Alex Ekwueme) will be 83 tomorrow (today). This is the first time in two years that I am standing up to speak.
“Let us begin to look for new leaders between the ages of 40 and 50; let us begin to search for one to be called Igbo leader,” he said.
Nwabueze, who was given an award as ‘Visionary Leader for Sacrificial Leadership to father land” by the IYM commended Minister designate, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, who was also bestowed with an award of “Decency in Politics and Honourable in Perseverance.”
Nwabueze, Ekwueme, Onu and His Majesty, Prof Chukwuemeka Ike, also unanimously agreed on the occasion that the Igbo must revive their dying language, commending IYM for choosing “Ibuli Asusu Igbo” as theme for its 16th conference.  They emphasised the need for the Igbo to rise to protect their language and culture, saying that no one would do it for them than themselves.
The Igbo leaders, who spoke majorly in Igbo Language urged school children, who were drawn from 42 institutions to attend the conference in the region, to hold fast to their culture and tradition.
Dr Onu who spoke last thanked IYM for “their interest in the well-being of our people,” saying that “today’s occasion should be an important reminder to our people that they have a rich past and an intimidating heritage. It is this heritage that provides the lessons of yesterday and throws light on the prospects of tomorrow.”
He promised that the Buhari administration would do its best to set things right in the country.
His words: “I wish to assure you all that the APC-led Federal Government of President Muhammadu Buhari will initiate visionary and sustained efforts to help Nigerians rediscover their rich past.
“In doing so, such efforts will be guided by the knowledge that cultural reawakening is an important tool in theeconomic, social and political development of our beloved country. It will also draw strength from the history of development efforts in other parts of the world which tailored their development processes to meet the peculiarcultural demands of their respective peoples.
“It will promote cultural renaissance as a conscious effort to build a new Nigerian civilization that will win respect for the nation in the global arena.”
Also speaking, the leader of IYM, Evang. Elliot Uko thanked the Igbo leaders for honouring their invitation, saying that they selected them for the awards based on their track records and integrity as authentic Igbo leaders.
He urged the school children and young ones at the conference to see them as role models.
Dr Ekwueme, Prof Ike and John Okafor a.k.a Mr Ibu also received awards of excellence at the occasion.