The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Nigerian-Biafran war was a civil war in Nigeria fought between the government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra from July 6, 1967, to January 15, 1970. Biafra represented nationalist from the Igbo people, the leaders of the Igbo people felt they could no longer coexist with the Northern-dominated federal government. This conflict emanated from political, economic, ethnic, cultural, and religious tensions.
In 2015, the incumbent president of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP lost the presidential election to General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressive Congress. Jonathan was widely supported by the Igbo extraction who saw him as one of their own. General Buhari recorded a low percentage of votes from the Southeast. The Igbos feel they are marginalized in the government of Muhammadu Buhari who took over the mantle of leadership on 29th May 2015 and was re-elected in 2019.
There was joy when the president made a statement saying “I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody” since that statement was made the Igbos have continued to complain of marginalization group the Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB) lead by the leader and director of Radio Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu renewed the agitation for the restoration of Biafra. On October 19;2015, Kanu was arrested by Nigerian security forces on charges of “Sedition, ethnic incitement, and treasonable felony” in response to his arrest there was a protest by Pro-Biafran supporters who protested in the eastern parts of Nigeria to push for his release due to rising tensions in the region, the Nigerian Army staged “operation python dance” which saw clashes between the Nigerian Army and Pro-Biafran protesters. Kanu was later released by a court with certain bail conditions. one of the people who were part of his bail includes Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe.
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The Senator is known to always speak up for the Igbos in the National Assembly. During a clash between Nigerian Army and IPOB supporters in Afara-Ukwu, Abia state, Kanu disappeared, this leads to tensions and questions as to whereabouts of the IPOB leader. The federal government had since tagged the group as a “Terrorist Organization”. Kanu resurfaced after a long time out, he has since made series of accusations on the Nigerian government in his several radio broadcast
Who will the Igbo’s president should any of the two major political parties zone their ticket to Southeast in 2023?
since the start of democracy in 1999, there have been these beliefs that after southerner rules it should go back to the north.
The PDP and APC
should the PDP decide to give the ticket to the east, who is the best fit to pull enough votes to defeat the opposition?.
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Peter Obi: Obi was a formal governor of Anambra state and a vice-presidential candidate for the PDP in the 2019 presidential election. Obi is widely supported in the east and would most likely be supported by the south and parts of the west but would struggle to gather votes from the northern part of the country.
Rochas Okorocha: Owelle Rochas Okorocha was a formal governor of Imo state who was elected under the platform of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) defeating the incumbent governor’ Ikedi Ohakim. Rochas enjoyed the majority support of Imolites in his first tenure and was widely cheered and called “Owelle Ndi Igbo”. His works in his first tenure gained him more support and trust from the Igbos who saw him as the leader of the Igbos?.
Rochas decamped to the All Progressive Congress in his bid to contest for the presidency under the APC which he lost to Buhari, this sparked criticism from Imolites. In the north Rochas is likely to gather more votes as vast Northerners like him. Should the APC decide to zone their ticket to the south, Rochas will have to battle it out with Bola Tinubu. The Jagaban is expected to clinch the ticket under the APC.