From Godwin Okeh, Abakaliki

A South-east-based Youth group, “Youth Initiative for Grassroots Development,” yesterday  adopted the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovations, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu as its preferred candidate to run for Presidency in 2023 on the platform of All Progressives Congress, (APC).

The group described Onu as the most qualified person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, and called on him to declare interest, assuring that they would mobilize people in all parts of the country to ensure his victory at the polls.

The national coordinator of the group, Mr. Vincent Ekuma made this known while speaking with journalists in Abakaliki.

He said that Onu’s antecedents, achievements, stake in the ruling APC, his personality and believe in a united Nigeria, makes him standout among other contestants, adding that only Onu has wide acceptance across the country.

According to him: “As members of Youth Initiative for Grassroots Development, we have assessed all those who have indicated interest to contest for Nigeria President in 2023 especially in southeast; our findings revealed that the best man for the next President of Nigeria is Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu. He is the best and most reliable politician in southeast Nigeria. A man free from corruption and believes that politics could be practiced devoid of monetary settlement. Onu is the only man in Igbo land who believes that everyone should maintain his political party, whether being in a ruling party or opposition.

“Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu is one politician who believes that failing in an election does not call for defecting to another party. He is the only man who accepts failure in election and believes that tomorrow will be better. This is a man who believes that what was discussed could be maintained to avoid political conflict of any sorts capable of taking the lives of our poor youths. That man is who Nigeria need now and we want him to come out to contest and win.

“With all that we know about Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, we are calling on him to make himself available to contest on the platform of APC. He is the only man considered worthy and capable of handling Igbo presidency due to his background. The best educated man among Igbo politicians, I mean, true education and not buying of certificates which is prevalent now among most politicians.

“We have no doubt that If APC gives Dr. Onu their 2023 Presidential ticket, it would be a round peg in a round hole  because he is eminently qualified, he was once a governor, he is free from corruption, he is a founding member of APC and he understand deeply the problems of Nigeria and how best to solve it.

“We all know how APC started. His Excellency Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was in charge of ANPP, Tinubu was in charge of ACN while Buhari was for CNPP. Now, Buhari is serving for eight years as President. Tinubu through Osibanjo is serving as Vice President and had also been given the chance to produce the party’s national chairman and other key positions.

“Therefore, for the sake of justice, fairness and equity in 2023, the baton of the party’s presidential ticket should pass to Dr. Onu who is one of the founding fathers of the Party, and incidentally from the South-east who from all indications should produce the next president of Nigeria.