- Kanayo O. Kanayo, a Nigerian veteran actor and lawyer, declared in 2022 that he will not contest for any political office in 2023.
- Kanayo added that this sacrifice will allow him to serve for a Nigerian President of Igbo descent.
- In 2024, Kanayo was quoted as stating, “Nigeria will begin to progress the day an Igbo person becomes president.”
- Kanayo feels that Nigeria would only begin to improve if an Igbo is elected president.
Kanayo O. Kanayo, a prominent Nollywood actor, feels that Nigeria would begin to flourish as a country if an Igbo person becomes president.
He remarked that the “Igbophobia” that has kept Igbos from being elected president is a “figment of imagination”.
He stated that Igbos are an essential part of Nigeria, holding properties even in the most distant places and making important contributions to the country’s economy and growth.
Kanayo O. Kanayo said that being Igbo meant belonging to an area with a particular dialect and culture; nonetheless, Igbos are frequently “judged by where they come from, not by what they have to offer.”
“The day you give an Igbo man the presidency of this country, that is the day Nigeria will discover why it is Nigeria. Economically, people will begin to say, hallelujah!.”~Kanayo O. Kanayo pic.twitter.com/YDEE9wMrFu
— Dr. Kenon (@drkenon2) June 24, 2024
He argues that if Nigeria eliminates the notion of “state of origin,” the country will be better off since “IQ” should be the determining factor, not one’s ethnic origins.
Kanayo remarked that the fear of Igbos seceding, which occurred during the Nigerian Civil War, is “only imaginary” and “induced,” because Igbos are the only people that consider all of Nigeria to be their home.
He believes that if an Igbo person becomes President of Nigeria, the country will “discover why it is Nigeria” and enjoy economic growth.
Newsypeople gathered online users’ responses to Kanayo O Kanayo statement. Below are a few of the remarks:
@sebastineog: “He’s really saying the gospel truth”
@aweayodele03: “Nigeria will discover herself if given the presidency to easterner, the same easterners are yet to make their region a better place. None of the states in the region is a pacesetter for others. How can someone who can not feed his family, could be inviting strangers for dinner.”
@bimboakeem: “What are we gonna discover sit at home or die or your fake products u defraud Nigerians”
@ebereanosike: “Not just any Igbo man, but someone as good as PO. And reason is not far-fetched. Any Igbo man that becomes President will be held to much higher performance standard. He would even have to prove his own people right for having supported him.”
@RITAENG1234: “Not just any Igbo Man anyway because Hope Uzordimma is an Igbo Man too, Respect to the Man wey sabi, HE Peter” Obi. Tuale Sir 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾”
@MichaelAkinsuyi: “Hero Beer at work 😃. Obviously he no drink responsibility.”
@Alliebolu: “Take these people seriously at your peril. Your state has been ruled by your people but nothing to show but sorrow, tears, and blood. Even during regionalism, you guys failed. You guys have no history of good governance.”
