South East Governors pledge to support new Ohanaeze Ndigbo President
Governors of the South-east states have pledged to cooperate with the new President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. George Obiozor.
It will be recalled that the ex-diplomat emerged victorious after defeating two other contestants in the election held yesterday in Owerri.
Speaking before the election, South-east Governors’ Forum Chairman, Gov Dave Umahi commended the outgoing President General, Nnia Nwodo, for conducting a successful election in spite of the efforts of some enemies
Acccording to Umahi, South-east governors endorsed the process and would stand by the outcome of the election.
He said that there is need for b the incoming executive to continue to let the same spirit of love for Ndigbo to linger.
The governor added that they should continue to fight for the unity of Nigeria as that according to him, will benefit Ndigbo more.
He noted that the ove for Ndigbo comes first before political party. We don’t care what people say about that.”he said
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, thanked South-east governors for the great role they have been playing in the unity of the people.
“My happiness is because Igbos are together against the wishes of some people who don’t wish us well.
“We’ve always come first in everything. Why we are behind is because the spirit I’m seeing here today was absent. We must go back to history to find our roots,” Uzodimma added.
2023: Igbo should present an acceptable candidate to win – Nwosu
A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former governorship candidate in Imo State, Uche Nwosu, has advised the Igbo to present a generally acceptable candidate if it must win the 2023 Presidential election.
Nwosu, who spoke with select reporters in Abuja, submitted that a candidate that can be accepted and supported by the other zones, will guarantee victory for the Southeast, than the one that will be seen as an Igbo candidate.
He assured that despite squabbles among Southeast politicians, the ambition to produce a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction in 2023 is still on course.
Nwosu maintained that no matter the differences among the Southeast political leaders, they will come together at the right time to pursue and actualise the Igbo agenda. He said political misunderstanding and realignments are not peculiar to Igbo politicians.
He however, cautioned against the practice of “pulling down”, which he termed as the Pull Him Down Syndrome, stressing that the need to work together in collaboration with other zones of the country to produce the next President.
Nwosu disagreed with any plan to have a consensus candidate from the Southeast, saying that such plan will tantamount to muzzling up the people against their wish, while describing it as undemocratic.
He said: “Whatever political quarrels that is among Igbo political leaders now is not capable of truncating the 2023 ambition, at the appropriate time everyone will come together in the interest of the Southeast zone. But, we should ensure that we present a candidate that will be generally acceptable by all the other zones of the country, a true nationalist and detribalised Nigerian and not an ethnic jingoist, that is the only way it can be possible”.
Restating President Muhammadu Buhari’s support for the Igbo project, Nwosu, argued that it is still early for the President to openly state his support for any particular zone, “I know that President Muhammadu Buhari will not disappoint the Igbo, I am sure about this because of what he has done for the Southeast zone so far in terms of infrastructure and the fact that he is also a man that is given to justice, equity and fairness. You don’t expect the President to give his endorsement for any particular zone at this time; it is still early for that”.
On the feud between the Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma and his predecessor and Senator representing Imo West Senatorial zone, Rochas Okorocha, Nwosu, urged the governor to reign in on his close aides, who he blamed for inciting the crisis.
Describing the faceoff between the duo as uncalled for, he called on the APC leadership to broker peace between the two leaders in the interest of the party.
2023: What Igbos should do to achieve presidency- Bishop
The Methodist Bishop of Onitsha Diocese, Rt. Rev Livinus Onuagha, has advised the people of the South East on what to do to achieve the ambition of getting Presidency in 2023.
According to the cleric, Igbos need to put their house in order if they must realise their presidential ambition.
He added that the issue shouldn’t have ignited controversy if there had been sincerity, equity, justice and fairness in Nigeria
He made this remark in Onitsha, Anambra State as part of his message to mark the 19th annual diocesan synod of the church with the theme: “Watch and Pray.”
He noted that political equity that political power was not donated but contested.
Onuagha said: “My opinion is that equity and justice demand that the space or platform should be opened for all and sundry. Ndigbo should learn to put their house in order because definitely there is somebody somewhere who will go for us.”
He urged the South-East and South-South states to eject illegal occupants of the farmlands and forests.
The bishop gave kudos the South-East governors for forming a regional security outfit code-named Ebube Agu.
He also applauded Anambra State Governor on the cargo and passenger international airport, describing it as the first of its kind in Africa.