•Babangida
Former All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirant, Charles Udeogaranya, has said that former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida’s recent clarification regarding the January 1966 coup d’état will pave the way for a Southeast president in the 2027 general elections.
Udeogaranya, said this in a statement he released at the weekend, amidst growing calls for national healing and political inclusion for the Igbo people, reports The Guardian.
Udeogaranya’s remarks follow Babangida’s recent intervention during the launch of his book, “A Journey in Service,” where he explicitly stated that the 1966 coup should not be attributed solely to the Igbo, a long-standing narrative that has contributed to the region’s political marginalisation.
He stressed that the coup’s primary objective was to restructure Nigeria and was not driven by ethnic sentiments.
Babangida noted that Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, often labeled as the coup’s leader, was “Igbo in name” but had a broader nationalistic vision.
The 1966 coup, which resulted in the deaths of several prominent Northern and Western politicians, has been a contentious issue in Nigerian history. The perception that the coup was an “Igbo affair” has been used to justify the exclusion of Igbo candidates from the presidency for decades, contributing to deep-seated grievances and a sense of injustice within the Southeast region.
This historical backdrop has fueled calls from socio-cultural organisations like Ohanaeze Ndigbo, who have demanded an apology from the Federal Government for decades of perceived humiliation and exclusion.
Udeogaranya, a known Zikist, welcomed Babangida’s clarification, stating that it “renders all lies against Ndigbo null and void and ultimately clears the way for the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo descent in 2027.”
He argued that fairness and national unity demand that the presidency be zoned to the South-East in the next
election cycle.
“These packs of lies fabricated against the Igbo people were designed to deny Ndigbo the right to preside over Nigeria. This is the aftermath of five decades of Nigerian leadership without an Igbo president,” Udeogaranya said.
“IBB’s revelation renders all lies against Ndigbo null and void and ultimately clears the way for the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo descent in 2027.”
He further urged the three leading political parties—APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Labour Party—to nominate Igbo candidates for the 2027 presidential election.
“This is crucial for urgent national healing and to set Nigeria back on the path of economic growth, rather than the continued struggle for a share of the national cake,” he said.
Udeogaranya’s call aligns with recent demands from the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which has called on President Bola Tinubu to issue an official apology and provide ₦10 trillion in compensation for
historical injustices stemming from the 1966 coup and the subsequent Nigerian Civil War.
Ohanaeze argues that Babangida’s revelations highlight the need to address long standing grievances and promote inclusivity in Nigeria’s political landscape.
