By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
As the two major political parties in Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) prepare for their upcoming primary elections to select their candidates to contest for the Office of President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, one of the founding members of APC, Chief Osita Okechukwu on Wednesday reminded those declaring for the plum job not to allow their personal ambition to truncate the cherished unity of the country.
Specifically, Okechukwu who is also the current Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) has called on the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo; APC National Leader, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state to perish the ideas of buying APC Presidential Nomination Form but rather support a candidate from the South East or at worst, South South geopolitical zones in the interest of united Nigeria.
Speaking on national television monitored in Abuja on Wednesday, Okechukwu posited that it will be a grave injustice to the South East geopolitical zone should the APC Presidential ticket is given to any aspirant from any zone order than the South East geopolitical zone.
Said he: “I will like to appeal to my friend Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state not to even buy the APC Expression of Interest Form. I also beg the National Leader of APC Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo whom I respect so much not to buy forms too”.
“It is not because I come from the South East but the truth is that for harmony, equity and oneness of Nigeria, the South East or at worst, South South should get the APC Presidential ticket for the 2023 Presidential Election”.
The outspoken APC chieftain who have always hit the bull’s eyes with his reasoning also said the South West have had its own fair share of the political spoil since APC came to power courtesy of the coalition of breakaway political parties including the “new PDP” faction led by Transportation Minister, Rotimi Amaechi and faction of All Progressive Congress Grand Alliance (APGA) led by Senator Rochas Ethelbert Okorocha.
According to him: “I will like to add that I have the greatest respects for VP Osinbajo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Yahaya Bello but the issue is that it will be unthinkable to say that when President Muhammadu Buhari from the North ends his Presidency in 2023 then the position which will return to the South will be occupied by the same South West? Is it what it is? “.
Continuing, Okechukwu said: “I want to believe that South East is part of Nigeria and it has a good number of eminently qualified persons to be the President of Nigeria. I may not have the deep pocket to buy form to run for the exalted position of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria but South East has people who are capable to lead the country at the moment in time”.
He argued that in the case nobody of the South East geopolitical zone is found capable to lead Nigeria then the position should go to the South South zone but insists that South East is the right place to anchor the 2023 Presidency.
Going down the memory lane, the Enugu-born politician said South Easterners have played important roles at every point of national development, adding that even in the formation of APC, prominent South East Political leaders like himself and others held the ground for the party hence it is a pay back time in 2023 Presidential Election.
” Let me say it here without fear or favour that greed of the political class is one of the reasons for the spate of insecurity festering in Nigeria. There are too much greed and injustices in the land. Greed has eaten deep into the marrow and self-interest has pervaded the land. Nobody cares about the overall interest of the country nor works for the unity of Nigeria”, the APC chieftain lamented.
