2023: It's Either Southeast President or We're out Influential Igbo Elders Breath FireYour support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Igbo leaders under the aegis of the Igbo Elders Consultative Forum (IECF) have said that the next Nigerian president must emerge from the southeast geopolitical zone. Vanguard reports that the elders also threatened heavy sanctions against any politician from the southeast region who accepts to serve as running mate to any candidate outside the zone. Making this known at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, February 16, the chairman of the IECF, Chukwuemka Ezeife, insisted that it is either the southeast produces the next president or the region will quit the country. Recommended for you "Davido, please say something": Lady cries frantically as singer comes onli... Ezeife who was a former governor of Anambra state the forum encouraged visionary, credible and creative presidential aspirants from the southeast to declare their intention to run for the presidency. PAY ATTENTION: Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG! He also encouraged these aspirants to ensure they pursue their ambition with every sense of seriousness, vigour and commitment. Further stating that leaders from the region are serious about this fresh directive, Ezeife warned that bootlickers angling to be running mates to candidates from other regions would be sanctioned. He said: Recommended for you INEC chairman releases list of states where governorship elections will not... Adding that the call for a president from the southeast is not just about legality or morality, Ezeife argued that other zones have been given the opportunity to serve Nigeria in that capacity except the Igbos. The Sun reports that Ezeife in his submission said that for the sake of justice, equity and fairness, it is important to change the narrative that Nigeria is the sleeping giant of Africa. Also speaking, Charles Nwekeaku, the secretary of IECF warned that any political party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the Southeast will lose the region’s votes. Nwekeaku noted: Recommended for you "Daddy Falana, Debo is my friend": Actor Lege reacts as Mr Macaroni sues hi... Also at the briefing were a former minister of education, Professor S.C Madubuike, secretary-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo (FCT chapter), Nkonye Kingsley, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Ibe Nwosu, and several other Igbo scholars and traditional title holders. Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide has called on all political leaders to allow the southeast to produce the next president of Nigeria. According to the president-general of the association, Professor George Obiozor, the country must create a political equilibrium that accommodates all the regions. Going further, Obiozor pointed out that it is only the southeast that has not had a shot at the presidency since the return of democracy in 1999. Chief Bode George, a PDP chieftain, has described as a huge joke Bola Tinubu's 2023 presidential ambition. Recommended for you 2023 presidential polls: How Nigeria's cyberspace suffered 12.9 million att... Tinubu, an APC chieftain and former Lagos governor, announced on Monday, January 10, that he had informed President Buhari about his ambition. George, however, said Tinubu is not fit to be Nigeria's president, adding that the APC leader "is living in cuckoo land". Source: Legit.ng Some elders from the southeast have said that the next president of Nigeria come 2023 must be from the region The elders led by a former governor of Anambra state argued that Igbos have never been given the opportunity to produce a president for the country Chukwuemka Ezeife noted that the elders will not tolerate any Igbo son playing second fiddle to any presidential candidate from another region in the forthcoming election Your support matters. Sustain independent journalism in Nigeria – contribute to Legit.ng. Subscribe to Digital Talk newsletter to receive must-know business stories and succeed BIG! “It is either we are allowed to produce the president of this country in 2023 to change the appalling narrative of continued decay, poverty, insecurity, poor governance, corruption and maladministration in Nigeria or out of it. "No half measure, as serious sanctions will be visited on any Igbo man or woman that sabotages this noble and patriotic decision of our people to provide for Nigeria a credible, visionary and creative president." “We are waiting for them (political parties), as they will meet their Waterloo this time, if they insist on shortchanging the Southeast people this rare opportunity of producing a credible, patriotic, detribalised and dynamic president of Nigeria in 2023."