The agitation for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction got a boost on Tuesday as different leaders of the southeast zone across political divides tasks all parties to choose their presidential candidates for the zone.
In a communiqué signed by Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Ike Ekweremadu, Anyim Pius Anyim, and others at the end of a bipartisan meeting at Igbere, Bende Council, Abia State; the South East leaders noted that the presidency has rotated between Northern and Southern Nigeria and among various geopolitical zones with only the South East left out.
Other Igbo leaders who attended the meeting include, Hon. Benjamin Kalu; Chief Chekwas Okorie; Chief Chuka Odum; Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha ; Sen. Michael Nnachi; Hon. Toby Okechukwu.; Hon. Amechi O. Danis; Sen. Obinna Ogba; Rep. Makwe Livinus M; Dr. Oliver Osi;; Hon Ali Okechukwu; Hon Stanley Ohajuruka.
The communiqué further stated that the South East as a major geopolitical zone in Nigeria and Ndigbo, being one of the three predominant tribes in the country, must take its rightful position in national polity.
“The Presidency has rotated between Northern and Southern Nigeria and among the various geopolitical zones. Thus, the South West and South-South geopolitical zones in the southern part of the country have produced the President of Nigeria in the persons of His Excellency Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
“Hence as power is expected to rotate to the South in 2023, the leaders noted that the South East is the only zone in the South that is yet to produce a President of Nigeria in the current democratic dispensation. “With the support of other geopolitical zones and ethnic groups, the position of Nigerian President in the 2023 general elections in all political parties should be zoned to the South East for the sake of justice, fairness, and equity. The southeast zone is united and indivisible in advancing the cause of the region and Ndigbo,” the communiqué read in part.
READ THE COMMUNIQUE IN FULL:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF A CROSS-PARTY MEETING OF SOUTH EAST POLITICAL LEADERS AT IGBERE, ABIA STATE, ON JANUARY 5, 2021.
Preamble
Political leaders of the South East across all political persuasions met at Igbere, Abia State, on January 5, 2021 to discuss the political future of the geopolitical zone vis-à-vis the 2023 general election.
Observations
The meeting recalled that Nigerians across political, ethnic, and religious divides fought hard, long, and collectively to enthrone the current democratic dispensation as the surest way to engender national development and guarantee a just and equitable society where every section of the country enjoys a sense of belonging.
The meeting observed that the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has rotated between Northern and Southern Nigeria and among the various geopolitical zones. Thus, the South West and South South geopolitical zones in the southern part of the country have produced the President of Nigeria . Hence as power is expected to rotate to the South in 2023, the meeting noted that the South East is the only zone in the South that is yet to produce a President of Nigeria in the current democratic dispensation.
The meeting further observed that the people of the South East have continued to demonstrate their commitment to the unity and development of the country. Not only has the geopolitical zone actively supported the emergence of Nigerian President of other geopolitical extractions, the people are also known to be major agents of development and heavy investors outside their zone and often the next in population after the indigenes in any state of Nigeria. Our well-pronounced presence and investments in every nook and cranny of the country represent the firmest and most practical demonstration of faith in the unity, peace, and continued corporate existence of the country, for where a man’s treasure is, there his heart lies also.
Resolutions/Demands
In view of the above and after exhaustive and incisive deliberations, South East political leaders resolved to:
1. Recommit ourselves to the deepening of the nation’s democracy as the surest way of fast-tracking national development and building an egalitarian society where no man is oppressed for reasons of his class, ethnic, religious or political affiliation and background.
2. Implore Nigerians across political, ethnic, religious, and geopolitical divides and persuasions to support the people of the South East geopolitical zone to produce a Nigerian President of South East extraction as a mark of good faith and to promote justice and national harmony. For emphasis, we deem this very important in giving every part of the country a sense of belonging and in promoting national unity and solidarity. It is the loudest reassurance of equality of all parts and that the country indeed belongs to all members of the Nigerian commonwealth
3. Consequently implore all the political parties to cede their presidential tickets in the 2023 general election to the South East in the interest of justice, equity and national unity. To make good our demand and reciprocate such good faith, we have decided, as a geopolitical zone with substantial presence in every part of the country to give a block vote and throw our full weight behind any major political party, particularly the APC and PDP, that zones its presidential ticket to the South East in 2023 general election. We resolved to work for such a party irrespective of our different individual political parties.
4. To emphasis that what we seek is a Nigerian President of South East extraction, one that will work to further unite and develop every part of the country. Such a President will be President of all Nigerians irrespective of their political, ethnic, and religious backgrounds, ensuring that all citizens and every part of the country is given a sense of belonging and treated with utmost sense of justice. Such was the dream of the founding fathers of this great nation wherefore they declared that though tribe and tongue may differ, in brotherhood we stand. For the same reason, they also committed to building a just nation where no man is oppressed so that Nigeria may be blessed with peace, plenty, and prosperity.
5. Wish Nigerians a happy and prosperous New Year.
Signed: Sen Orji Uzor Kalu
Sen Ike Ekweremadu
Hon. Benjamin Kalu
Chief Chekwas Okorie
Chief Chuka Odum
Hon. Nkiruka Onyejiocha
Sen. Michael Nnachi
Hon. Toby Okechukwu.
Hon. Amechi O. Danis
Sen. Obinna Ogba
Rep. Makwe Livinus M
Dr. Oliver Osi
Hon Ali Okechukwu
Hon Stanley Ohajuruka