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| Lawan Kaita |
The aspiration of the South East geo-political zone to produce the president in the country in 2015 might not be an easy task after all, going by statements emanating from leaders in the North.
A former governor of old Kaduna State, Alhaji Lawan Kaita and Alhaji Bashir Tofa, former presidential candidate of the National Republican Convention (NRC) in the 1993 election and chieftain of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) have dismissed the ambition of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo’s socio-political group, describing it as “mere wishful thinking.”
Kaita told Sunday Mirror in a
telephone interview that the region would not be shortchanged again after what
it passed through in 2011 election that produced President Goodluck Jonathan.
The northern leader and Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain is among notable elders in the region that are
angered by the emergence of a southerner in the 2011 presidential race, as
against the party’s zoning policy which, he said, should have favoured the
North.
Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain is among notable elders in the region that are
angered by the emergence of a southerner in the 2011 presidential race, as
against the party’s zoning policy which, he said, should have favoured the
North.
Currently, notable Igbo
political and socio-political groups have been holding meetings both in the
country and outside its shores, on how to ensure that the South East produces
the nation’s president by 2015.
political and socio-political groups have been holding meetings both in the
country and outside its shores, on how to ensure that the South East produces
the nation’s president by 2015.
Notable among such groups is
Ohaneze Ndigbo, led by its President-General, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue. Others
include Igbozurume, a socio-political organisation led by Col. Joe Achuzie
(rtd), and another group, C-21, led by its president, Senator Annie Okonkwo.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, led by its President-General, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue. Others
include Igbozurume, a socio-political organisation led by Col. Joe Achuzie
(rtd), and another group, C-21, led by its president, Senator Annie Okonkwo.
The agitation of the groups,
among others, is that the South East geopolitical zone has not produced the
nation’s president since the end of the civil war in 1971, despite its immense
contribution to the socio-political development of the country.
among others, is that the South East geopolitical zone has not produced the
nation’s president since the end of the civil war in 1971, despite its immense
contribution to the socio-political development of the country.
Last Thursday, former National
Chairman of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, while canvassing for the
emergence of a president from the South East in 2015, noted that no tribe has
more justification than the Igbo to ask for the presidency in 2015, adding that
Igbo have the qualification. He spoke at the meeting of Igbo leaders in Enugu.
He equally revealed that an all- Igbo political summit would hold in November
to launch the campaign for a president from the South East.
Chairman of the PDP, Chief Okwesilieze Nwodo, while canvassing for the
emergence of a president from the South East in 2015, noted that no tribe has
more justification than the Igbo to ask for the presidency in 2015, adding that
Igbo have the qualification. He spoke at the meeting of Igbo leaders in Enugu.
He equally revealed that an all- Igbo political summit would hold in November
to launch the campaign for a president from the South East.
Also in one of the meetings of
Ohanaeze in Enugu recently, Ezeife noted: “We have said that Igbo Nigerian
president is important to us and we must pray to God to get it. Igbo should
play a game of cooperation, not competition. We are super qualified for the
presidency but we will be organised to achieve it.
Ohanaeze in Enugu recently, Ezeife noted: “We have said that Igbo Nigerian
president is important to us and we must pray to God to get it. Igbo should
play a game of cooperation, not competition. We are super qualified for the
presidency but we will be organised to achieve it.
“This time around, we are going
to cooperate, all Igbo must go for campaign in all the tribes in the country to
tell them what we want.’’
to cooperate, all Igbo must go for campaign in all the tribes in the country to
tell them what we want.’’
Echoing the ex-governor’s
position, Achuzie last week disclosed, “It must be the turn of Igbo to occupy
Aso Rock at the end of Jonathan’s tenure. Even though Jonathan still has the
right to re-contest after 2015 by virtue of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ndigbo must not allow the chance to pass us by
this time round, after his tenure,” he said in Aba, Abia State.
position, Achuzie last week disclosed, “It must be the turn of Igbo to occupy
Aso Rock at the end of Jonathan’s tenure. Even though Jonathan still has the
right to re-contest after 2015 by virtue of the 1999 Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, Ndigbo must not allow the chance to pass us by
this time round, after his tenure,” he said in Aba, Abia State.
Kaita, however, disagreed: “I
disagree with the South East totally on this issue; we won’t compromise the
next election, it won’t happen”.
disagree with the South East totally on this issue; we won’t compromise the
next election, it won’t happen”.
Alhaji Tofa,who spoke in the
same vein, howeversaid the issue was strictly the responsibility of the ruling
PDP to resolve.
same vein, howeversaid the issue was strictly the responsibility of the ruling
PDP to resolve.
“They are the ones who know
what to do in this regard in order to avoid conflict”, he said, adding, “It is
left for the electorate to decide if the position is their birthright, since
the opposition leaders are still naive and cannot unite to safeguard our
nascent democracy”.
what to do in this regard in order to avoid conflict”, he said, adding, “It is
left for the electorate to decide if the position is their birthright, since
the opposition leaders are still naive and cannot unite to safeguard our
nascent democracy”.
Source: National Mirror
