The Pan Nigerian President of Igbo Extraction Coalition (PANPIEC) has cautioned Ndigbo that they cannot simultaneously pursue the dream of Biafra while also seeking to produce Nigeria’s president.
The warning was issued in Abuja on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting with a cross-section of church leaders. Speaking at the event, Rev. Obinna Akukwe, Chairman of the PANPIEC Igbo Presidency 2023 Strategy Team, emphasized that the Igbo are fully prepared for the 2023 elections. However, he noted that a vocal minority remains committed to the Biafra cause, which creates confusion about the region’s political direction.
Addressing Fears About Biafra
Rev. Akukwe assured the clerics, many of whom came from northern Nigeria, that fears surrounding a possible declaration of Biafra by Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi were unfounded. According to him, there was no basis for the claim that Obi, if elected president, would declare secession.
He explained that such assumptions were political tactics aimed at discouraging support for an Igbo presidency. “Ndigbo are pushing for a president of South East extraction,” he said, while acknowledging that other candidates like Atiku Abubakar and Bola Ahmed Tinubu also have established support bases across the country.
On Claims of Fulani Invasion
The PANPIEC leader also dismissed allegations that Fulani herders had overrun the South East. According to him, the narrative was exaggerated.
“I came back from the South East Peace Tour on Sunday. Apart from about six communities experiencing clashes with Fulani — two in Enugu State, and one each in Imo, Anambra, Abia, and Ebonyi — which security agencies are already addressing, there has been no Fulani invasion of the South East,” Rev. Akukwe clarified.
He criticized Igbo clerics spreading such claims through social media and WhatsApp platforms, noting that these stories not only misrepresent the situation but also discourage northern voters from supporting the idea of an Igbo presidency.
Political Strategy and Peace Efforts
Rev. Akukwe highlighted the ongoing work of the PANPIEC Igbo Presidency Strategy Team, the Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC), and the Igbo Think Tank (ITT). According to him, these groups are engaging with splinter elements of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to ensure peaceful elections in the region.
He emphasized that achieving a credible election in the South East required unity, peace, and responsible communication, rather than divisive narratives that harm the region’s chances in national politics.
Clerics Call for Peaceful Elections
At the meeting, the attending church leaders prayed for peace and a successful election in Nigeria. They also resolved to encourage their members to vote for the candidates of their choice without fear or intimidation.
The gathering underscored the balancing act for Ndigbo as they push for national leadership while managing secessionist sentiments within the region. PANPIEC’s message was clear: the pursuit of both Biafra and a Nigerian presidency is contradictory, and the Igbo must decide on a united path forward.
