A group, the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, has urged the Igbo to support the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
It said the Southeast would fare better with the All Progressives Congress (APC) in power.
The group said while the Igbo made a political “mistake” in the past, it must avoid a repeat in 2019.
Yoruba Ronu, in a statement by its Secretary General Akin Malaolu, said President Buhari deserves the support of the Igbo because of his integrity.
It said the President has ensured that development spreads across Nigeria, including Igboland.
“The Igbo must hold the present leadership in high esteem because of his probity and requisite caliber.
“The government today and with its present leadership has modernised the rudiments of administration and has departed completely from the attitude of ‘we’ as against ‘others’.
“Developments are today springing up everywhere in the Igboland and that must not be discouraged. The nation needs the Igbo people just as the Igbo also need Nigeria completely,” it said.
The group urged the Igbo not to repeat what it called the mistake of the past when it voted massively for Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
“The Igbos made some bad moves during the Jonathan era of ugly opportunism that gave rise to division both from religion and tribe. All of these must be forgotten and we must make Igbos partners in all affairs of Government at the centre.
“Igbo people must do well to accommodate our differences in diversity. They must play politics with obvious intention to contribute to the growth of first the Igboland and secondly Nigeria.
“The prosperity enjoyed by the Igbos in their participation in previous administrations shows clearly to be individualistic in nature and not generally for Igboland as compared to today.
“2019 is around the corner and we feel it necessary to plead to the Igbos that the APC has enough space and heart to give the Igbo people equality and respect which they rightfully deserve.
“It is only in APC that the Igbo prosperity can be enriched with comfortable speed. Igbos should come on board the APC train and take their rightful positions in the affairs of our nation.”
