It’s time to revert to old alliance between North, East – Isiguzoro to Northern elders

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, factional Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has urged Northern elders to revert to the days of alliance between the North and Eastern region.

He said the Northern leaders should reflect on the historical missteps of their region from 1999 to 2023.

This is coming on the heels of the recent declaration by the leadership of the Northern Elders Forum expressing regret over their choice to support President Bola Tinubu in the 2023 presidential elections.

The Northern elders noted that the mistake of voting Tinubu, who was the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2023 has taught them a lesson.

The forum recently came hard on the President when it lamented the growing insecurity across the country, especially the recent abduction of school children in Kuniga, Kaduna State, indicating that the present government has failed.

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But lsiguzoro, in a statement, stated that the North must heed the call with grace, as they have been the architects of their own political misjudgments and blunders.

According to the statement, embracing the reality of realignment with the South-East is imperative for the Northern region’s future prosperity,

He stressed that without rekindling the traditional allegiance with the East, the North risks being ensnared by cunning politicians, perpetuating a cycle of regrets that has plagued the region since 1999.

“The ongoing lamentations of Northern leaders within the first eleven months of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration have not gone unnoticed by Nigerians, particularly the Ndigbo.

“Note worthy figures such as the Sultan of Sokoto, Emir of Kano and other eminent religious and traditional leaders have raised poignant concerns about the prevalent sufferings, insecurities, and poverty in the North.

“The voices of discontent from socio-cultural organizations and political figures in the North highlight a deep-seated dissatisfaction with the current trajectory. In the annals of history lay the poignant memories of the harmonious political alliances that once existed between the North and the East in the early ’60s.

“The partnership between the NPC and the NCNC stands as a beacon of unity and collaboration that the North should consider revisiting for future elections.

“The regrettable choices made in the past elections, as witnessed in Jos PDP 1998 Convention the Northern choice of Obasanjo over Ekwueme, the 2015 choice of Buhari over Jonathan, and in 2023 Tinubu over Obi, underscore the need for strategic realignment to avert future remorse.

“Ndigbo extends an olive branch to the Northern brethren, but the message remains clear.To pave the way for a prosperous future, a return to the table with the East is paramount. Though supporting President Tinubu until 2027 may seem prudent, the North must look towards collaborative efforts with the East, their traditional allies for sustained stability,” he said.