The Senator representing Imo West senatorial district and former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, yesterday, said that the time is ripe for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction to emerge.
Okorocha spoke in Owerri, when a group called Igbos for Rochas 2023 President, led by Jeff Nwaoha, from the five states of the Southeast zone, visited him.
Okorocha said that all regions have produced a president and it’s only the Southeast region that is yet to occupy the number one position.
It was Okorocha’s belief that the Igbo would do a new thing in Nigeria, should they be given the chance as well as to make Nigeria greater to compete economically with other developed nations of the world.
The Senator said: “I am happy because you find me worthy. I am happy because you have made huge sacrifices driving through the long distance to meet with me during Nigeria’s presidency. I have read in between the lines of your submission. That you want a Nigerian presidency of Igbo extraction. And you have found me worthy for this position. I feel honored and I am happy.
“Let me salute you in the manner which you have conducted yourself in a more peaceful approach and this is commendable.
“It is true that Igbo are highly misunderstood but allow me to say that Igbo are the most peaceful Nigerians and wherever you find them they are building bridges of peace and economic development. The Igbos are the only people that have invested more outside than what they had invested in their own land.”
He added: “Igbo people alone cannot make the president of Nigeria. We need the support of other regions of this country to produce the president of Nigeria. We need the Hausa, Yoruba, and other regions to be able to produce the presidency.
“For me, I have run for this office of the presidency using different political parties and up to three times now, I have run for the office of the presidency under the ANPP, and the second time under PDP, the third time in APC, and now If I must run it is for the unity of Nigeria. If I must run, it must be for the empowerment of the youths of Nigeria, and if I must run for the presidency, it will be to make this nation compete with other greater nations of the world economically.”
Okorocha pointed out that, “The North has produced a president, the West has produced the president and the South-south has also produced a president of this country and we have seen all they have done. It is time for Igbo to produce a president and let us see how the Igbo will change this country.”
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