2015: Eze Ndigbo begs Ndigbo to support Jonathan if...

* Cautions Igbo travellers against reckless driving

By Ikenna Asomba

Amidst calls from some quarters that it's the turn of the South-Eastern region to produce Nigeria's President by 2015, Eze Hyacinth Nwabueze Ohazulike (OON), the Eze Ndi Igbo of Lagos State has opined that the region should exercise patience and allow President Goodluck Jonathan to make his intention public. 

Second left: Eze Hyacinth Nwabueze Ohazulike (OON), presenting kolanut to Chief Olabode George (right) during the 2012 ZIK DAY in Lagos.

He also cautioned Igbos travelling home to celebrate the yuletide with their families to avoid reckless driving, which may lead to loss of lives and valuables.

Speaking on Saturday, at the 2012 end-of-the-year, organized at his Ifako-Ijaiye Palace, Ohazulike, who is also National President of the Association of Ndi Eze Ndi Igbo in the Diaspora called on the Igbos to wait till 2019, if eventually President Jonathan makes his intention known to vie for Presidency in 2015.

He said: “My candid opinion is that the Igbos should be calm and let us hear from the President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, if he will be contesting. Nigeria's democracy has shown that every leader always want to go for two terms to enable them complete their transformation agenda.

“President Jonathan has the opportunity and constitutional rights to go for second term. If he wants to run, there is no need breaking our house. There's no need for Igbos to be agitating for what we know may stop our chances of ever emerging as the country's President. So, if Jonathan is contesting, there is no need for the Igbos to make mountain out of mole hills. Perhaps, he will only run for four years, which is just like four days.”

He, however, sued that the Igbos should rally support for Jonathan, if he wishes to run for the Presidency by 2015, noting that “no Jupiter will stop the Igbos from producing Nigeria's next President by 2019.”

Meanwhile, Ohazulike has admonished the Igbos travelling home for the yuletide to drive with caution and continue to maintain peace and order in the country.

His words: “For all Ndi Igbo travelling home this yuletide, I urge them to avoid over-speeding but drive carefully. Is it not an irony that after running at a speed of over 180 km/s you still end up not beyond Ore, as a result of an auto crash or damaged tyres, whereas, someone that run at a lesser speed of 80km/s gets home and start calling the reckless driver.

“Ndigbo should also continue to maintain peace and order in Lagos State and the country in general, because we have been known to always be at the forefront of peace in the country,” he added.