By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Former Governor of Anambra state, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife says the quest for ‘One Nigeria’ is realizable just as he has also heaped praises on President Muhammadu Buhari for his statesman view of the unity of Nigeria.
Ezeife also posited that a New Nigeria where justice, equity, fairness and mutual respect will be the order of the day will be led by someone from the South East geo-political zone to show the rest of the country that Ndi Igbo are great believers in one united Nigeria.
Ezeife who was a guest of Arise News TV breakfast programme ‘The Morning Show’ monitored in Abuja on Monday, was answering questions on the proposed amnesty plea for Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafran (IPOB).
The former Anambra state Governor who was in the entourage of eminent Igbo Leaders who visited President Buhari at Presidential Villa, Abuja last week with a sole request for the unconditional release of the embattled Kanu, said the President showed great understanding in the visit of Igbo leaders.
Said he: “President Buhari sounded very genuine in his promise to our request on the release of Nnamdi Kanu. I have never seen very enthusiastic and frank, except when he was in his house in Kaduna. I am optimistic he will fulfil his promise to consider our request”.
He disclosed that the visit by the eminent Igbo leaders led by the first Republic Minister of Aviation, Mbazuluike Amaechi was made possible by prominent Igbo sons serving in the cabinet of President Buhari.
According to him: “the meeting with President Buhari was made possible by respected Igbo ministers who told us of the body language of Mr.President and we are happy that he received us. In fact he did not keep us waiting, we believe our request will be considered as he promised”.
Ezeife insists that President Buhari may start the “New Nigeria Project” with the meeting with the eminent Igbo leaders, stressing that such meetings with other ethnic groups like the Yoruba Nation, Ijaw, Middlebelt, etc will go a long way to douse tension in Nigeria.
“In fact, I proposed to Mr. President the importance of dialogue with different ethnic groups. You may call it National Talks. I am glad he is not opposed to anything that will bring peace back to our people”, Ezeife insisted.
The elder statesman however disclosed that he has already started consulting with the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders, Shiek Gumi, the Catholic Archbishop of Sokoto Diocese and Secretary of National Peace Committee (NPC), Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah and others for a dialogue to bring peace in Nigeria.
On the 2023 General Election, he opined that justice, fairness, equity and mutual respect should take the front seat, pointing out that “the people of the South East geo-political zone have shown through the just concluded Anambra state Governorship Election that they believe in Nigeria”.
“If the Anambra election did not hold those who are looking for excuses to deny the people of the South East their turn to produce the next President of Nigeria would have been rejoicing. I want to emphasise that a New Nigeria state people are clamouring for will be led by someone from the South East in 2023. Mark my word”, Ezeife concluded.
The former governor also advised the defeated candidates in the just concluded Anambra state governorship election to bury the idea of becoming a substantive Executive Governor through the courts pronouncement.
Ezeife argued that the last thing Anambra state want at the moment is needless court cases over the election that has been won and lost.
According to him, the people of Anambra state have chosen who will lead them after the incumbent Governor Chief Willie Maduaburochukwu Obiano leaves office in March 17, 2022, adding that the choice of the people as expressed in the November 6 should be respected by all the contestants who lost in the election.
Said he: “the election has come and gone with a winner declared by the electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Everyone in Anambra, the South East and entire Nigeria is happy with the conduct of the election”.
“I am appealing to other candidates who did not win to give peace a chance. The state does not need a court-imposed Governor like we have witnessed elsewhere. Anambra people have spoken through the ballot box and their choice should be respected”.
