Doyin Okupe, a former spokesman of ex-Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, has apologised for saying the Igbo presidency would not be a reality unless the northerm region forgives the Igbo people over the assassination of the Sardauna of Sokoto Ahmadu Bello.
Mr Okupe was attacked on social media after his tweet on Saturday went viral.
The former presidential aide was forced to delete the tweet and issue an ‘open apology’, saying he was only trying to help actualise the dream of an Igbo presidency.
He wrote: “I tender my unreserved appology 2 d Igbos & other nigerians who felt offended by my post on igbo presidency and the north. I never intended to hurt or demean the Igbos. Instead I wanted 2 help actualise d dream. I regret d said post, & I am truly sorry.”
Bello was murdered on January 15, 1966, by Major Chukwuma Nzeogwu an Igbo Nigerian Army officer in a coup which toppled Nigeria’s post-independence government. Bello was still serving as premier of Northern Nigeria at the time.
Also assassinated in the coup was Bello’s long time friend Abubakar Tafawa Balewa alongside many political elites in the north and in the west.
