The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has hailed former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim over his declaration of interest for the 2023 presidential election.

UGAMA TV reports that Anyim, a former Senate President, is the only politician from the South-East who has announced interest to seek the office of the President in 2023 during the PDP National convention.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the President-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he said Anyim had demonstrated courage and clear political vision.

While noting that power is not given but taken, Okwu said “we are concerned that several Igbo politicians are still sitting on the fence waiting for someone to hand them over the seat of the President.

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“Such a dream is dead on arrival and that is why we commend the former SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim for having the courage to step out when others are still peeping through their holes.

“We call on any politician of Igbo extraction who has interest to speak up now or bury the ambition. Their lily-livered approach to politics will not work this time.”

The Ohanaeze group, however, cautioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, not to be used against politicians ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“The EFCC must resist the temptation of being used to cajole and harass politicians who may have one ambition or the other in 2023.

“We as Ndigbo will not accept a situation where any Igbo man or woman that shows interest in the presidential election will be chased around with the instrumentality of the EFCC,” Okwu cautioned.