Udoka Charles Udeogaranya, a past contender for President in the 2019 elections, called on the Northern Elders Forum and all of Northern Nigeria to support Peter Obi, the nominee of the Labour Party, as the President to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
He asserted that by backing the former Governor of Anambra State, Northerners would guarantee the fulfillment of the late Paul Unongo’s ambition for an Igbo-speaking Nigerian President during the Second Republic.
In a statement to express his condolences for Unogo’s passing on Monday, Udeogaranya argued that it was past time for the Northerners to back a candidate from the South-East to become President of Nigeria.
The statement read, “The Northern Elders Forum and entire Northern Nigeria should honour and heed the wise counsel and wish of the recently departed soul of Wantaregh Paul Unongo, OFR.
“No Nigerian who is sincere to himself or herself can be in denial that the Igbos who Nigeria has denied presidency for over fifty years, should not produce the next president of Nigeria in 2023; a singular action that will unite Nigeria and build inclusiveness for Nigeria to move forward.
“Nigerians in general and particularly the good people of Northern Nigeria must put all hands on deck and ensure that Mr Peter Obi, presidential candidate of Labour Party and as well, the best candidate on all numerous fronts, emerge victorious on the 2023 presidential election for the common good of all the people of Nigeria.”
Udeogaranya asked to God to grant the soul of the deceased eternal life and unite Northern and Southern Nigerians as brothers in one accord while expressing sympathy to Unongo’s family and the entire Northern Nigerian populace.
