BEVERLY HILLS, March 19, (THEWILL) – Leaders of the South-East and South-South have rejected the report of a committee set up by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), which recommended the scrapping of its zoning policy.
The PDP committee led by the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, recommended that the party’s 2023 presidential ticket be thrown open to all the six geopolitical zones in the country.
But in a vehement opposition to the Mohammed panel’s proposition, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and its counterpart, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), called on the PDP to reject the committee’s recommendation.
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Ohanaeze, in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, said it remained irrevocably committed to the emergence of a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction by 2023.
The group demanded the withdrawal of the “unconscionable” report, saying it was capable of impugning on the unity of the country.
The Ohanaeze reaffirmed its commitment to the South-East desire to produce the country’s president in 2023.
The statement read: “Ohanaeze views the report by the Bala Mohammed led committee as most despicable, un-reflective and unconscionable. It is very worrisome that some highly placed Nigerians who have benefited so much from the unity of the country would be inclined to decisions and actions that will further inflame the passions of the patient but aggrieved part of the country.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Nigerians agreed on the rotation of the presidency between the North and the South; in which case it is the turn of the South after the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari. For clarity purposes, both the South-West and the South-South had both taken their turns in the persons of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan respectively.
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“It is rather very unpatriotic and a trifle on the sensibilities of the Igbo for the committee to even suggests the rotation of the presidency to the North-East in the first instance and open to every part of Nigeria as a major slight.
“It is disturbing that all the indignities, perceived and real, that the South-East suffers in the current dispensation are the outcome of the Igbo support to the PDP since 1999. It is on record that in 1999, the Igbo were in hock with the PDP through which Chief Olusegun Obasanjo emerged the President of Nigeria; same in 2003 and the subsequent elections in Nigeria.
“On the other hand, the Igbo had invested much political capital in the PDP only to be betrayed by its apparent lack of principles. The leadership of the PDP is advised to retract the comment made by Alhaji Bala Mohammed and countermand the content of the obnoxious committee report in the interest of the party.
“Let it be known that Ndigbo does not wax so eloquent on political parties. The Igbo is bound to advertise the party that caters to the interest of our people. It is instructive that Senator Ali Ndume, a chieftain of the All Peoples Congress (APC) is among the prominent Northerners that canvass for zoning the Nigerian presidency to the South-East for the 2023 presidential election.
“Other prominent APC chieftains are highly committed to the realisation of this project and we will be very delighted to work with them in the overall interest of Ndigbo.
“The Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Amb. Prof. George Obiozor is committed to a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction and there is no going back on it. It should be noted that the Igbo network transcends geographical space and the enormous Igbo goodwill and resources across the world will be mobilised to achieve this equity-inspired project.”
The group argued that the Igbo is bound to advertise the party that caters to the interest of her people, adding that it is instructive that Senator Ali Ndume, a chieftain of the All Peoples Congress (APC) is among the prominent Northerners that canvassed for zoning the Nigerian presidency to the South-east for 2023 presidential election.
Ohanaeze added that prominent APC chieftains are highly committed to the realisation of igbo presidency in 2023.
On its part, PANDEF condemned in strong terms the recommendation by the PDP committee.
The forum in a reaction by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Ken Robinson, described the recommendation as irrational and inconsistent with extant provisions of the PDP Constitution on zoning between the North and South.
Robinson stressed that the position of PANDEF “is that a northern president is to complete eight years by 2023, so the presidency must, therefore, rotate to the South in 2023.”
According to him, it is absurd for anyone to imagine that the North would retain the presidency as nature abhors injustice, adding that the sun does not rise in the east and set in the east.
He said the PDP will be better if it discards of the committee’s report “and work towards ensuring that its 2023 presidential candidate is from the South, whether the person emerges from the South-south, South-east or South-west is a different matter entirely.”
The forum warned that it will be suicidal for any of the registered political parties to field any northern candidate for the 2023 presidential race.
“The PDP and indeed any other political party, need not be told that It would be a suicidal adventure for it to toy with the idea of presenting a northern presidential flag bearer in 2023″, it said.
Meanwhile, a group that identified itself as Atiku Support Organisation (ASO) has embarked on massive e-registration of members to rally support for Atiku ahead of the 2023 contest.
National Publicity Secretary of the organisation, Dr. EI Mo Victor, said in a statement that the membership drive is part of a deliberate effort towards attaining the objectives of the organization.
He requested interested members of the public to use the registration link: https://atikusupportorga
