By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
For the umpteenth time, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on the two big political parties in Nigeria to consider fielding presidential candidates from the South East geopolitical zone in the spirit of “One Nigeria”.
Specifically, Otunba Ebunola Martins who is an APC chieftain from the South West geopolitical zone is rooting for the former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha who he said fits into the toga of a detribalized Nigerian.
Otunba Martins who was a guest of Arise television breakfast programme ‘The Morning Show’ monitored in Abuja on Thursday argued that Nigeria as a country will be unfair to one of the important parts of the country, the South East if the zone is denied the opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023.
According to him: “Nigerians must not forget that the foundation of our country was built on unity as can be captured in Nigeria’s Motto which says: “Unity and Faith, Peace and Progress”. If truly we believe in the Nigerian Motto then no other geopolitical zone should contest the 2023 Presidential Election against the candidates from the South East zone”.
Otunba Martins argued that all the zones in Nigeria have had their turn at the highest position in the country, the Presidency except the South East., pointing out that elder statesman Pa Edwin Clarke has recently voiced out that South East zone should produce the next President as his South South zone produced the immediate past Nigerian president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
Said he: “In the same vein, the South West produced ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo who did eight solid years and also produced incumbent Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo who will complete his eight years by next year with President Muhammadu Buhari”
“If you take account that late President Umaru Yar’Adua was also from the Northern part of Nigeria then it will be a grave injustice and against the spirit of “One Nigeria” should the South East be denied the chance to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023.
According to: “the South Easterners are the only ethnic group in Nigeria that build houses or have landed properties in every part of the country no matter how remote, set up big businesses and inter-marry wherever they found themselves in the true spirit of oneness.
The APC chieftain insists that he is not paid to drum support for the South East but only fighting to see that justice is done by Nigerians giving the South Easterners a sense of belonging to say we are part of the citizens of Nigeria.
Said he: “I am not only speaking for Senator Rochas Okorocha, although I am not his spokesman, I am speaking for all South Easterners who want to lead Nigeria. They deserved to aspire to lead Nigeria and should be supported by the other zones to lead the country at this particular time in history”.
