The Council of Igbo Elders has said Ndigbo are not desperate for the presidency to warrant the outburst of Chief Raymond Dokpesi that if an Igbo man becomes president of Nigeria, he will divide the country.

The former Chairman of DAAR Communications Plc and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party had through a statement on Monday alluded that Nigerians feared a president of Igbo extraction would allow the country’s breakup, citing separatist agitation by Indigenous People of Biafra in the South East.

Dokpesi had said, “If nobody has told Ohanaeze Ndigbo before, the concern today from some other regions is that if Nnamdi Kanu plays the role of Aguiyi Ironsi in leading a militant revolt against constitutional government in the South-East under the Igbo presidency, the president will be pressured by his base to facilitate the UN processes for the South-East to call for independence from Nigeria.

“Thus, an Igbo president may be compromised in protecting the political and geographic boundaries of Nigeria whilst Nigeria remains under the threat of IPOB’s secessionist activities.”

But Chairman, Council of Igbo Elders, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, in an interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday, pointed out that there were agitations for separation across the regions today.

Iwuanyanwu, while describing Dokpesi’s statement as unfortunate, said Ndigbo had supported a united Nigeria practically, making investments all over the country.

“What he said is just like somebody who says if you give the presidency to somebody from the North-East or North-West, people will break away because Boko Haram wants to break away from Nigeria.