The Pan Nigeria Presidency of Igbo Extraction Coalition (PANPIEC) the umbrella body for all pressure groups championing zoning of Nigeria President come 2023 to Igbo has received a boost to her quest as a former Head of State, Gen Yakubu Gowon (retd.), who led the Nigerian side during the Nigerian Civil War (1969-1970), has said he does not have any problem if power shifts to the Igbo come 2023.

He premised his views on the condition that as long as doing so would enhance peace.

Gowon spoke in a special interview he granted to the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Service in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the end of the war on Wednesday.

Our correspondent listened to excerpts of the interview in Abuja, on Friday.

While responding to a question on the agitation by south easterners that the Igbo should produce the nation’s President in 2023, he said, “If doing so will bring peace, it should be done; if the people so desire.”

He added, “There was a time the PDP started rotational presidency, if that was continued maybe the Igbo would have produced a President but that didn’t happen. If that can be done now, I don’t have a problem with it. Anybody can govern. There are many people in Nigeria, if God gives them and they will govern with the fear of God and love for Nigerians, we will make the desired progress.”

Earlier, while responding to a question on whether he had regrets leading Nigeria into the civil war, he said he did not regret his action given the circumstance at the time, stressing that it was necessary to keep Nigeria one.

Gowon said, “I want to thank God that we ended the civil war on a peaceful note; like I said back then, there was no victor, no vanquished. I thank God for the peace we’ve enjoyed over the last fifty years since the war ended.

Meanwhile The PAN NIGERIA PRESIDENCY OF IGBO EXTRACTION COALITION (PANPIEC) will pay homage to the tombs of key founding Fathers of Nigeria and receive their post humous blessings in its crusade for a Nigeria Presidency of Igbo extraction in 2023.

The spokesman of the group Prince Uche Erondu noted that the group would visit the tomb of the Great Zik of Africa at Onitsha, Sir Ahmadu Bello in Sokoto, Chief Obafemi Awolowo in Ikenne, and Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi.

He noted that the group would also visit the tomb of other key founding Fathers of Nigeria and nationalists who inbuilt political justice and equity in Nigeria in the past .
The blessing of these Great Nigerians would no doubt be the starting point of the journey for political equity and justice in 2023 Chief Erondu noted.

Meanwhile several Nigeria groups in the diaspora have been lauding the activities and approach of the PANPIEC and noted their support to the group. The leader of NIGERIA IN DIASPORA ORGANISATION (NIDO) PRINCE OLADELE OSUNTOKUN noted that Nigerians in the Diaspora and their various member organisations are joining PANPIEC in their droves due to its PAN NIGERIA nature and its convincing message of political justice and equity in Nigeria. He saluted the group and assured of the maximum support to the COALITION by Nigerians in the Diaspora.

Also five other Nigeria Pressure groups have collapsed their groups into PANPIEC. They include Nigeria Rennaisance Movement, Oodua Equity Congress, Arewa Democrats, Igbo bu Igbo Congress and United Niger Delta Awareness Forum. The spokesmen of the groups, LUKE MAMELU, FEMI OLUFEMI, IDRIS MAMMAN, CHIKE IKE, AND BROWN DIKIBO announced at different fora the collapse of their structures to PANPIEC to realise its nationalistic objectives.
PANPIEC is meanwhile establishing its WARD, LGA, STATE , NATIONAL, INTERNATIONAL STRUCTURES AND CHAPTERS