The Guardian Online - http://ngrguardiannews.com
Sunday, May 6, 2001
How Igbos Can Take The Presidency In 2003, by Nas

From

Bayo Ohu

Katsina

AGITATIONS by the Igbos to produce the country's president in 2003, and their struggle to remedy their perceived marginalisation would be in vain unless Igbo leaders and politicians come together in unity to fight their cause, former Special Duties Minister, Alhaji Wada Nas, has said.

Speaking to reporters in Funtua at the weekend, he said even though the Igbos had actually been marginalised by the successive administrations in the country, the Igbos themselves have been the arthictects of the problem they have been complaining about and they must salvage themselves from the self-inflicted malady.

He stated: "Although the administration is fighting them, but it is a pity that they (Igbos) are fighting and exposing themselves to ridicule through vendetta."

This weakness, he noted, is what the administration and other enemies of the Igbos are exploiting to perpetuate the marginalisation and unless the Igbo leaders have a rethink and work together as a group, their problem of marginalisation would persist.

However, Nas criticised the recent appointment of three service chiefs in which the Igbo was not considered for any of the posts, pointing out that there is the need to consider the Igbo grievances in respect of the appointment. "I do not believe that the Igbos do not have someone to warrant a favourable consideration", he added.

According to him, it will be in the best interest of the country for President Olusegun Obasanjo to be more sensitive in his appointments in order to reconcile contending forces and interests.

Reacting to the on-going political re-alignment in the country, Nas said he is prepared to work with the "Afenifere" the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural group.

You wrote:

"....listen to your intellectuals....."