The Coalition of South-East Professionals Network in Nigeria and Diaspora, CSEPNND, has accused a desperate politician of sponsoring Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, to thwart Igbo presidency in 2023.
CSEPNND then called on the people of SouthEast region to begin community advocacy against the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB.
The group also begged the Igbo’s, in general, to ignore Kanu, adding that the Abia-born secessionist is out to destroy the Igbo Nation.
It appealed to Nigerians to support the South East to produce the next president of the country in 2023, insisting that the IPOB leader is not speaking, or acting on behalf of Igbo people.
CSEPNND alleged that these desperate politicians are feeling threatened by the chances of Igbo’s producing a President in 2023 and are now sponsoring Nnamdi Kanu to scuttle the bid.
This was contained in a statement, Friday, signed by its National President, Prof. Madumere Chika and National Secretary, Mazi Anayo Uchemba.
The group also called on Governors of the region, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and well-meaning Igbo sons and daughters to rise against Nnamdi Kanu and his group by denouncing them wholeheartedly.
It insisted that the region must be vigilant and not succumb to Kanu’s antics of speaking or carrying out his actions for the South East interest.
“We wish to authoritatively say that Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is not working for the interest of Ndigbo, rather he is being bankrolled by a certain Nigerian politician who is contesting the 2023 presidential elections from the South against the Igbos,” it alleged.
“This politician is doing this through some of his key aides to cause disaffection in Nigeria between the Igbos and other regions of our country.”
“The politician, having realized that the general mood in the country now is the high sympathy Nigerians have for Igbo people in 2023 general elections, decided to employ this method to set Ndigbo up against Nigeria and we must not allow this,” it further said.
It alleged that “Nnamdi Kanu held several meetings with these people in the month of December in France and another meeting on the 10th and 11th of January 2021.
“Their aim is to portray the Igbos as enemies of Nigeria who don’t deserve the presidency.
“Although our people are highly marginalized and deserve the right for agitation, that must be done legally and by the appropriate people, not a deviant young man like Nnamdi Kanu who is out for his selfish interest,” it said.
“Igbo people deserve the Presidency this time around. They have all it takes to produce the next president of Nigeria and that is what we should be pushing for now with one strong voice in unity and sincerity of purpose.
“We are therefore calling on all Ndigbo worldwide to rise up against Kanu and everything he stands for.
Recall that CSEPNND had, in an open letter, called on President Muhammadu Buhari’s government to, without further delay, demand the extradition of Kanu from the UK.
And in response, Kanu condemned the call for his repatriation, describing it as laughable and attempted blackmail.
Angered by Kanu’s claims, CSEPNND, had reiterated its position saying Kanu must immediately be extradited to the country to face his trial over alleged treason.
The group also dismissed claims by the IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, that neither CSEPNND nor its president, Prof. Madumere Chika was in existence.
