* Describes declaration as troubleshooting adventure . As Gov Umahi informs Buhari of his presidential ambition , I’ll give Tinubu a run for his money - Orji Kalu By Ezeocha Nzeh A Yoruba Socio-political group, Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, has rejected the declaration on Monday by National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that he would contest the 2023 presidential election. Tinubu had informed presidential Buhari on Monday that he would contest for the nation's top office in 2023, declaring that it has remained his lifetime ambition Rejection of Tinubu's declaration in a statement issued Tuesday in Abuja , Yoruba Ronu insisted that 2023 is the turn of the Igbo of the south east to produce the next president of Nigeria. The Yoruba group in the statement signed by their president, Akin Malaolu, maintained that the forum would not be tricked into supporting any other presidential aspiration other than one from the South east region. This is coming, even as Governor Dave Umar of Ebonyi State, yesterday visited President Mohammadu Buhari, where he informed the President of his intention to vie for post the President under the auspices of All Progressives Congress APC. The Yoruba group further described the move by Tinubu as a troublemaking adventure even though it recognized the right of the national leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC to pursue his ambition. The Yoruba Ronu statement, titled “ Tinubu’s Presidential Ambition is a Troublemaking Adventure”, the statement read thus: “It is no longer a speculation that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is interested in becoming the next president of Nigeria come 2023. It is within his right as a Nigerian to go for it. But for the purpose of further clarity, we see the move to visit the President as a troublemaking misstep purposely to create an impact that may unbalance the present drivers of the party, the progressive governor’s forum and enlarge the fault lines already visible and to midwife a division within. “This attitude is uncalled for, particularly from any democrat that is worthy of being a member of an association and at a time the Nation is looking for peace. "Moreover, It is important for us to set the record straight, that the presidential interest from any tribe other than from the IGBOS may take the nation into a deeper political trouble that may set the nation ablaze if care is not taking. “Those who see Alhaji Abubakar Atiku’s and Tinubu’s interest as their “Right” obviously also believed that Igbo interest is a “Hope” and we can from this stage imagine what calamity we have created for 250million of lives and families and how quickly we have destroyed the bridges made by southern governors for our common struggle and to the understanding of our people in the North and South that oneness amongst ourselves and within our diversity is more important than the interest of political brigands and their fair weather helper leaders of thought in the Southwest, we have taken inventory of conditions in our diversity and our findings convinced us that the fate of our vast people and ethnic nationalities across Nigeria can only be made well, if we rotate the office of the president amongst ourselves and in a uniform fashion. It is very important for leaders both in the South and North to put some sort of order in their feelings and form a new basis for their future actions to avoid taken 250 million of our people into near war scenarios. “We have looked in astonishment on all of our political and religious decisions so far, and as leaders and fathers, with a mixture of pride and apprehension, watch leaders achieve a scandalous and applauded fame in political tricks. "We therefore plead with leaders mostly in the south not to play the “Traitor Role”. The Forum noted further that "We have taken a position to support Igbo presidency come 2023, and on Igbo presidency we stand." 2023: Umahi declares for presidency, visits Buhari Governor Umahi ‘s declaration is coming barely 24 hours after former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, declared his ambition to contest for the presidential ticket as well. The governor, who said the President advised him to consult widely, said he was not perturbed by Tinubu’s entry into the race as he believes that the contest is not about might. Umahi, who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2021, reiterated his earlier stance that the former ruling party was not ready to cede the 2023 ticket to the southeast, adding that he stands a chance if the APC throws the ticket open. He said if he gets the opportunity, his presidency will replicate his efforts in Ebonyi State at the national level, saying that he has a lot to show in running governance as business. The Ebonyi Governor said he supports a political solution to the insecurity problems in the South East, noting that economic activities of the region have been greatly impacted. APC Presidential ticket: I’ll give Tinubu a run for his money - Orji Kalu Meanwhile, following the formal declaration by the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to run for the Presidency in 2023, the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has boasted that he will match the former grit for grit for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, APC. According to the former Abia State Governor, he would be ready to contest the APC Presidential ticket with the party’s National leader, Bola Tinubu if the party zones it to the South. Tinubu had on Monday declared his ambition to take the reins of power as Nigeria’s next President during his visit to President Muhammadu Buhari to intimate him of his ambition, where he said that it has been his lifelong ambition to become the President of Nigeria, a move many believe may have foreclosed the clamour for Igbo Presidency. Speaking yesterday, Kalu said that while he has nothing against the aspiration of Tinubu, he believes that his own Southeast is ripe for the Presidency and that it should be the turn of the zone to produce the next President that should be him. According to a statement by Barrister Emeka Nwala from the Office of Senate Chief Whip, Kalu said that he has all that it takes to match Tinubu grit for grit and campaign for campaign if need be for the APC ticket in 2023. Recall that Tinubu had last year November visited Kalu in his Villa mansion where he told the Senator of his Presidential ambition
2023 Presidency: Yoruba group reject Tinubu, Atiku, insists on South East presidency
