The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to a spurious, mendacious and malicious news item making the rounds that a candidate has been chosen to occupy the post of the President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, which by rotation, is now the turn of Imo state.
The said vexatious piece would have been ignored for the chaff it is but for the fact that it impinges on the solid and time-tested tradition of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in choosing its leadership and the integrity of its present President General, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
The truth of the matter is that posts in Ohanaeze Ndigbo are rotational and positions zoned to States. It is the responsibility of States to chose their candidates which they may prune down for their convenience.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo has the responsibility of organising election for all those who indicate interest and buy forms for the election.
It is therefore, preposterous and the height of mischief for anybody to write or in any way infer that Chief Nwodo went for an Imo State stakeholders meeting in Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyawu’s office.
Chief Nwodo couldn’t have been at a meeting of Imo State Leaders Thought for the purpose of choosing a candidate for President General when he wasn’t invited and Ohanaeze didn’t organise it.
Moreover, the decision at the meeting will not stop Ohanaeze from conducting the forth-coming election.
As a matter of fact, Chief Nwodo has not visited Chief Iwuanyanwu since the latter’s birthday celebration last year. They only met recently at a meeting with the Governors of the South East over other matters.
It is wrong for people to listen to an illegitimate, sponsored and disgruntled group of people masquerading as the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze.
It is also a great affront to the dignity and image of Ndigbo for purveyors of these fake news intended to mislead the public to be taken seriously.
People should verify such information from the office of the President General before accepting or releasing them, unless some mischief is intended.
As to the conduct of the election, an announcement will be made by Ohanaeze Ndigbo after the meeting of the Imeobi next week.
Any current information or story about the forth-coming election remains the figment of the imagination of its purveyor. Any such story is therefore, false, void and puerile.
No amount of innuendos and blackmail will deter Ohanaeze from bequeathing a virile leadership to Ndigbo.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, under the leadership of Chief Nwodo, is committed to the inviolate tradition of conducting a free, fair and transparent election to usher in its successors in January 2021.
The spokesman of the Atiku Abubakar, Presidential Campaign Organisation for the 2019 presidential election, Segun Showunmi, has called on the youth in the country to participate more in active politics in order to be able to contribute positively to nation building.
Showunmi also noted hat except Nigerian youths, particularly those that are educated begin to take active part in politics, the much desired change in the country would remain a mirage.
He made this call on Thursday, when the leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Zone D, presented him with the Award of Excellence for his roles in entrenching democratic norms and good governance in the country.
He reiterated that the youths should go back to their respective wards and join a political party of their choice, saying such step would allow their political consciousness rub on other members of the party and ultimately help to form a government that would promote good governance.
Showunmi noted that a situation where 77% of voters in the country are illiterate will always lead to making uninformed decision and resulting to electing leaders who do not have what it takes to offer quality leadership to Nigerians.
He, however, advised the students to begin to use their education and exposure to sensitise and play advocacy roles towards achieving a Nigeria of their dream, adding that “as long as the political process is left for the illiterate, the journey to the Promised Land would remained tortuous.
He thanked the students body for the honour done him, promising to always be ready to support their moves to create a better country for themselves and the future generations.
Earlier, the leader of the students, Emmanuel Showunmi, said the zonal students body decided to honour the social commentator to encourage him to do more, urging him to keep supporting the youth in their determined efforts to make the country a better place for all.
The ruling class in Nigeria from 1967 till date are most wicked and heartless with exception of very few.
They have taken all of us for granted . They have made us so poor and beggarly depending on our monthly salaries and stipends including political patronage for survival. They believed that the masses of Biafra ,Oduduwa ,Arewa and several other ethnic groups in Nigeria can never come together to resist the ruling cabal.
But ,I have good news for you: the average people in Nigeria are coming together to retire the old ,recycled and analog political class from public service. This is 21st century where technology rules the world. I can assure you that tomorrow will be better.
You only need to trust us – we are not lazy ,we are passionate and technologically driven.
Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi quest to be All Progressives Congress presidential candidate and not alleged injustice meted on the South East by the Peoples Democratic Party, has been blamed for his defection.
Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who made this assertion, said committed members of the PDP were not surprised that Governor Umahi on Tuesday formally defected to the APC, which he has for a while been fraternising with.
Governor Wike, said ordinarily he would not have been perturbed by Umahi’s decision to defect to the APC, but, he felt offended by his attempt to justify his decision on the purported injustice meted on the South East by the PDP.
The Rivers State governor accused Umahi of being unfair to the PDP which gave him governorship ticket in 2015 against all odds, and repeated same feat in 2019.
He noted that while Umahi has a right to move to the APC, but for him to attempt to blackmail the PDP and paint it in a bad light was mischievous and unacceptable.
“My friend, Umahi wants to be president. There is no problem about that. You have a right to be president. Nobody can stop you. You are educated. You have been a governor for two terms, so you are qualified to say I want to be president of Nigeria. But, that does not mean, that because you want to blackmail your party, and tell lies to the people you are leaving the party because of the injustice meted against the South-East, that is not correct.”
Governor Wike, who demanded that Umahi should retract the statement that the PDP has not been fair to the South-East, argued that under the PDP, the South East has produced Senate Presidents; National Vice Chairman of the PDP and Secretary to the Federal Government.
He said it was erroneous for Umahi to accuse PDP of injustice, when he had unilaterally imposed his younger brother as South-East zonal Vice Chairman of the PDP.
“In life , power is sweet, but conscience is important. It is most offensive and insulting for a man to lie against his party because of power.”
The governor said though APC has not yet told Nigerians where it will zone its presidential ticket, Umahi presumptuous move might be too hasty and will ruin him politically.
According to him, assuming the APC decides to zone its presidential ticket to the South East where the party has no formidable base, what is the guarantee that Umahi will secure the ticket.
“My reaction to Governor Umahi’s defection is not that he has no right to defect, but to say he is defecting because of injustice meted to the South East that is insulting to the South East.”
The Governor urged the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the PDP to take decisive steps to ensure that PDP does not die in Ebonyi State.
Kelvin Ebiri
Special Assistant (Media) Rivers State Governor
Ambitions are legitimate desires, that push people to achieve their dreams. Humanity may be Hopeless without it. However, I am inclined this morning to look at the current news emanating from Ebonyi State, and the vaulting ambition of Gov Dave Umahi; someone I really never took to heart because from beginning of his joining PDP, I saw a man filled with Political greed.
His experience from being Chairman of PDP when he just entered the party, left me wondering in those days, to the fight he had with his former boss, Elechi Amadi, the immediate past Governor of Ebonyi State. PDP has not only been gracious to Gov Dave Umahi, the party made his Political career…I am dumbfounded to see his current swaggering and promiscuous mendacity with APC, now making all of look like fools.
He is in his right to pursue his “ambition”, no matter how he goes about it, but he should mind the words that “those who live in Glass Houses don’t throw stones”! I know that many people don’t see any difference with Parties, but I do, seriously. There are things that I have seen since APC took over the reigns of power in Nigeria, especially with a character like Buhari, I never saw during the days of PDP.
From President Obasanjo, to Yar’dua, (when he had his full faculties working), to Jonathan, I saw a party determined to genuinely improve the state of Nigerians, and created policies to enhance the well-being of Nigerians on a general level.
There may be few personal fights that may have resulted in Political fiscuffs, but they are generally isolated, and not a norm or dragged on for long to affect the quality of governance.
Since APC came to Power, lying has become a national item. It’s just ridiculous. Atrocities, atrocious policies, like mindless increases in every essential thing; food, fuel, VAT, school fees, Bank charges, closure of borders, selective justice, and mind-blowing corruption! They are just uncountable.
Religious Islamic tribal superiority is being displayed with impunity, while lives no more matter to the authorities of the State. People are bucthered with such alacrity, and nothing is being done by this APC regime about it.
If not by Boko Haram, which is now being pampered by the State, it’s Fulani terrorists herdsmen, who derive their powers from the inner sanctorum of the Presidential Villa, to the State Security agencies who mow the citizens down on the flimsiest of excuses. This became so bad that the youths of this country, in their millions, defying personal security, organized the most effective anti Government protest ever; *#ENDSARS*! Yet this APC Regime shamelessly organised the state Security agencies to massacre innocent Nigerians who are displaying genuine anger against state sponsored terrorism against them. This is the worst display of insensitivity and wickedness by any regime ever, in Nigeria’s History.
And today the state is unrelentingly pursuing with venom those they perceived as the leaders of *#ENDSARS! What is this, Nigerians? How can a Government “elected” to *provide security and welfare* for it’s citizens become the albatross and the Achilles’s heel of the same citizens they are meant to protect. Some prominent members of this cabalistic regime have died, and their deaths are attributed to the Covid 19 pandemic! Covid 19 pandemic? Are you kidding me! What we heard as the dying confessions of Abba Kyari is still freightening to me. I know they are true because one saw all those things being displayed. My worry is not those who believe in the righteousness of their jihadist mission, but my problem is why do people cheer these heartless wicked souls on as they display such unparalleled wickedness on the citizens they are meant to protect?
Party matters, and Nigerians should be very careful and understand that all that glitters is not gold. Let’s not be blinded or deceived that all the parties are the same. They are not. And the Peoples of this country have demonstrated their preference for PDP at all times. What happens is that the State apparatus are deployed to thwart the will of the people. I saw it in Ondo recently, in Kano, in Osun, in Katsina, and in the last Presidential election. I hail Nigerians and urge us, especially the people of Ebonyi State not to be carried away by the nascist disloyalty of Gov Umahi to PDP who is about throwing away the wish of Ebonyians away on the alter of a recklessness ambition. He should realize that evil never lasts forever! I hope he prayerfully re-traces his steps, before *ekene agafee nku aka*!
*A Working, prosperous Nigeria is Still very possible*
I urge the people of Anambra State, never to lose sight of these things as 2021 comes into view. Very soon, they will come to “seize” the State. Let’s look before we leap.
The Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law is deeply sad, worried and dismayed over the continuation of Army massacre operations in Obigbo and global silence trailing same. With our latest updates, the number of slain defenseless Igbo citizens of Obigbo residency and environs in Rivers State has now risen to at least 60 with between 90 and 100 others shot and deadly injured. Dozens have also been permanently disappeared and 200-300 others militarily abducted and held in custodies only known to the Nigerian Army. The Nigeria Police Force, Rivers State Command is also strongly believed to be holding not less than 100 persons. All the surviving victims being held alive by the Army and the Police are strongly believed to be undergoing torture and other harsh detention conditions. There are also no credible pieces of evidence showing that the sick and the injured detainees are receiving adequate medical treatments, raising serious fears of some dying in Army or Police custody or both.
We therefore strongly call for international intervention to stop the atrocious Army operations. The Nigerian Government and Nyesom Wike led Government of Rivers State must be prevailed upon to immediately withdraw the killer soldiers deployed to Obigbo and environs and all those currently held by the Army and the Nigeria Police Force in Rivers State and neighboring Abia State must be freed unconditionally or put on fair trial. The Obigbo massacre must not only be thoroughly investigated but also the perpetrators of the dastardly act including Major Gen Olu Irefin (GOC, 6 Division, Port Harcourt), Brig Gen SB Kumupayi (Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia) and Gov Nyesom Wike must be fished out at appropriate time and place and put on local and international trial for mass murder and crimes against property well as crimes against humanity.
We also wish to state boldly and factually that what is going on in Obigbo is far more devastating and three times murderous than the 20th night of Oct 2020 Lekki Tollgate Army shootings and killings targeted at gathered unarmed and defenseless protesters in Lagos State. In other words, the number of unarmed and defenseless citizens killed so far at Obigbo in Rivers State is at least three times higher than that of Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State.
While the Lekki Tollgate killings took the lives of about 20 persons, the number of persons so far killed in Obigbo has risen to at least 60, out of which 30 have been verified bodily or by names.
On the other hand, while the number of those shot and deadly injured in the Lekki Tollgate shootings is about 30, the number of those shot and deadly injured at Obigbo has risen to between 90 and 100, out of which 50 names have so far been identified. The ongoing Obigbo Army massacre has also resulted in permanent disappearances of dozens and 200-300 Army abductions. Unlike the Lekki Tollgate Army massacre where ‘ethnic cleansing’ was never intended even though a good number, if not majority of the dead activists were Igbo citizens; in Obigbo, the Army massacre there was and still is a full blown ‘ethnic cleansing’.
Apart from the fact that 98% of the dead and the shot and deadly injured victims in Obigbo are citizens of Igbo Nation, using “IPOB death code”, the Nigerian Army and other killer squads loyal to the Rivers State Government headed by Gov Nyeson Wike have also applied instant death and abduction code against every citizen with Igbo name or identity. In other words, any citizen with Igbo name or identity caught during their house breaking and house-to-house search and violence is instantly labeled “IPOB member” and either killed or abducted.
Therefore, going by our earlier promise of keeping the global community with verified updates over the ongoing Nigerian Army-Gov Nyesom Wike massacre operations in Obigbo, Rivers State; Intersociety has updated and verified 30 of the dead victims and 50 names of the shot and deadly injured in the massacre. We had in our first statement of 6th Nov 2020, released names of eight slain citizens and three unidentified others as well as 22 names of the shot and deadly injured others and made a promise to launch a detailed investigation into the massacre.
The Obigbo Army massacre, now bearing semblance of ‘ethnic cleansing’ and still ongoing, had occurred since 21st Oct 2020 following a curfew and thoughtless order issued same date by Gov Nyesom Wike, which the heavily Muslim controlled and secularity challenged Nigerian Army cashed in to levy human and property war targeting members of the Judeo-Christian Igbo population residing in the area; by killing them at will and looting and destroying their properties. Homes and areas occupied by Igbo natives have been targeted and are still being targeted by soldiers and-any person with Igbo identity is instantly made to run the high risk of losing his or her life or liberty and property.
The soldiers had In keeping with their new “IPOB death code”, abducted and presumably killed scores of unarmed and defenseless Igbo citizens living in the area-with multiple dozens, if not hundreds still held in the custodies of the 6 Division of the Nigerian Army located in Port Harcourt and Elele as well as its neighboring Asa-Ukwa military facilities in Abia State. They have been held in such facilities for past 28 days or since 21st Oct without being released or handed over to the Nigeria Police Force as required by law. Hundreds of homes have been broken into and still being broken into-with their Igbo occupants abducted at ungodly hours and their properties razed or destroyed or vandalized or burnt. It is credibly estimated that the Nigerian Army is presently holding not less than 200-300 of the arrested.
For instance, the areas affected by the Army massacre in Obigbo and environs are Obigbo Expressway (surrounded with armored tanks since 21st Oct till date), Old Aba Road (under siege since 21st Oct), Obigbo Roundabout (under siege since 21st Oct), Mbabo Camp (under siege since 21st Oct), Ehi Road/Umunchi (under siege since 23rd Oct), Kom Kom Area (under siege since 24th Oct), Ohafia/Abiriba Quarters (under siege since 26th-27th Oct and 11th-12th Nov and Obeama Area (under siege since 29th-31st Oct ), etc. Terrified witnesses including passersby are also alleging the dumping and drowning of scores of slain corpses inside ‘Imo Gate’ and ‘Mmiri Nwanyi’ Rivers. Some claimed to have sighted some floating corpses at ‘Mmiri Nwanyi River on 29th and 31st Oct and ‘Imo Gate River Banks’ on 7th and 8th Nov 2020. The witnesses were unable to photo or video the ‘floating corpses’ owing to heavy presence of soldiers guarding the areas for possible destruction of evidence or erasing traces.
Timber Road area has been under Army terror since 28th Oct. A Jewish Shabbat Mission in the area was attacked and dozens of its worshippers and officials abducted with scores killed. Umusonye/School Road and Vacation Areas have also been under Army siege, forcing several, if not many of their residents to flee. At Okpulo Area, residents including Shabbat religionists were attacked on 6th Nov and on 8th Nov, the Shabbat Mission in the Area was demolished; likewise terrorization of residents of Ikwere-Ngwo Area and violent attacks on their houses including demolition of another Shabbat Mission in the Area. Houses and residents of Okoloma-Afam have been under heavy military terrorization since 12th and 14th Nov 2020.
Along Tap Junction, at least four defenseless citizens were shot dead and scores injured by soldiers in the evening of 11th Nov. This is according to eyewitnesses’ accounts. At Mbano Camp same evening of 11th Nov 2020, three persons were shot dead and at Obigbo Express Junction, two more persons were shot dead and at Ohafia and Abiriba Junction same date and time, witnesses said “between 15 and 20 persons” were shot dead following indiscriminate shootings in different terminal directions by soldiers. While some of the corpses particularly those that felled off the road or street or inside gutters are abandoned to decompose, soldiers made away with others.
The heavy presence of soldiers also made it very difficult for relations of the slain to pick up their relatives’ bodies. Late Queen Nwazuo was among those shot and killed by military’s rain of bullets fired in different terminal directions. She was shot dead in front of her shop around noon of 23rd Oct 2020. She was killed at Umunchi Junction, Ehi Road in Obigbo. Among those abducted in their sleep by soldiers are Aneke Sunday and Onyema Christopher Onyeiro. While Citizen Aneke Sunday was abducted in his sleep around 2am in his residence around Market Road, Obigbo, Citizen Onyema Christopher Onyeiro and scores of his co residents were abducted around 11pm on 17th Nov 2020 at Isaiah Eletuo Street, Obigbo
In all these, the Government of Rivers State and authorities of the Nigerian Army (who have refused to speak and maintained silence of the graveyard on the massacre) are stopping at nothing to ensure that the truth concerning the massacre never sees the light of the day. Gov Wike apart from going about denying that “no killings took place at Obigbo”, has also been trying to divert the public attention by urging ‘all to condemn the killing of soldiers, police personnel and burning of police stations at Obigbo rather than wasting time seeking to investigate without evidence the Oyigbo incident”. Attempts by the NBA fact-finding committee to investigate the massacre have also been strongly resisted by the Gov and Government of Rivers State.
Updated Slain Victims Of Obigbo Army Massacre: Their identities are: (1) Pastor Igwe (slain husband of Mrs. Amara Igwe), (2) Queen Nwazuo (slain fiancée of Mr. Monday Bakor), (3) Okoro Peter and (4) Mr. Chinwendu (the two were shot at close range and killed instantly by soldiers including busting the brain box and fluids of Late Chnwendu on 24th Oct 2020 few meters away from Gov Wike’s convoy during his visit to Obigbo), (5) Jude Egejuru (died from gunshot injuries), (6) Clifford Okeke, (7) Cornelius Anya, (8) Udeme Ossy Monday, (9) Edochie Steven, (10) Ebere, (11) Wisdom, (12) Chizy (missing and presumed dead), (13) Michael Nkama (believe to have died from gunshot injuries) and (14) Chinonso Joshua (died from gunshot injuries), (15) Godwin Samuel Umahi, (17) Sunday Umahi, (18) Queen Eze, (19) Darlington, (20) Chinonso Udoh (missing and presumed dead), (21) Kufre Sandy (missing and presumed dead), (22) Justice (shot dead in front of his residence), (23) Martins (missing and presumed dead), (24) Ebite Orjinta (Ihite-Uboma, Imo State), (25) Sunday Aneke (missing and presumed dead), (26) a young nursing mother (died from gunshot injuries) and (27) her newborn baby of one month, 3 weeks and two days (yet to locate her relatives), (28) a yet-to-be identified dead citizen, (29) second yet-to-be-identified citizen and (30) third yet-to-be-identified dead citizen. The three slain bodies were shot and left to decompose along an Obigbo Street in a verified video footage.
Updated Injured Victims Of Obigbo Army Massacre: Among the deadly injured are: (1) Chukwuma Chinonso, (2) Nwoke Okwudiri Nwonye, (3) Uche Ogbonna, (4) Chikaodi Agwu, (5) Michael Okwudiri, (6) John Emeka, (7) Agwu Enyi, (8) Obichukwu Chibuike, (9) Izuchukwu Igwe, (10) Eluu Chukwuemeka, (11) Arinze Joshua, (12) Nwakama Izuegbe, (13) Destiny Okorie, (14) Israel Asoh, (15) Emeka Heart, (16) Victor Heart, (17) Orji Amaoji, (18) Paschal, (19) Obasi Emela, (20) Chiwuzu Orjinta, (21) Sylvester Odoche, (22) Elochukwu Emeka, (23)Nwakama Uzuegbu, (24) David Godwin, (25) Chima Iwuala, (26) Theresa David, (27) Ozara Ede Anyanwu, (28) Nnamdi Udorji, (29) Obasi Emerem, (30) Sunday Okoegwu, (31) Ozuen Christian, (32) Chima Ogbona, (33) Samuel Obasi, (34) Solomon Ukezu, (35) Ndubuisi Azunna, (36) Victoria Ndubuisi, (37) Ubong Umoh, (38) Tochukwu Nicholas, (39) Anthony Obi, (40) Udorji Anayo, (41) Etim Ubong, (42) Chisom Nnamdi, (43) Eric Angel, (44) Peter Ajah, (45) Uzochukwu, (46) Godwin, (47) Emeka, (48) Arinze, (49) Mike Ujam and (50) Ugwuanyi Ogbuu.
Signed:
Principal Officers: Emeka Umeagbalasi (Board Chair), Chinwe Umeche, Esq., (Head of Democracy), Obianuju Igboeli, Esq., (Head of Civil Liberties), Ndidiamaka Bernard, Esq., (Head of Int’l Justice & Human Rights) and Comrade Sam Kamanyaoku
I wasn’t surprised that Governor David Umahi just exited the PDP. Since Buhari came to power, every political pundit with instinctive cum analytical prowess knew that Ebonyi henchman was only a step out of the PDP. Governor Umahi never pretended about his romance with the President and the ruling party. His body language has been anti-PDP sentiments. Like most ideologically perverted Nigerian politicians, he has gone to further his political interests while berating his former party using the pretext of fighting for South-East. Time will tell how strategic or unwise his decision was.
I wouldn’t have bothered writing this piece if it was about Governor Umahi’s cross-carpeting alone, because it is inconsequential to me. But the insufferable hypocrisy being displayed by some PDP leaders towards Umahi’s exit. When Governor Godwin Obaseki joined the PDP, most pro-PDP folks celebrated it as “tenets of democracy” and “fundamental right of association”. My question is: if Gov. Obaseki could exit the APC for political reasons, why won’t Gov. Umahi do same? I detest hypocrites!
2023 and South-East Question
From the knee-jerk reactions of the PDP and some of its leaders as regards Governor Umahi’s defection, it is obvious that the party was rattled by this development. The palpable fear that one or two governors of the zone will follow Umahi to the APC, has altered the 2023 calculation of the PDP. Governor Nyesom Wike has demised Umahi’s excuse for leaving the party and told the NWC to ensure that the party is not dead in Ebonyi State.
The PDP has shown that South-East is still important to the party after all, but has hitherto pretended that South-East was unimportant in its political strategy as we en route 2023. The party has refused to make categorical statement concerning the noble quest of the zone to produce president. The silence of the PDP as regards the fate of the zone ahead of next presidential election, smirks of subtle betrayal. South-East has supported the PDP enough to the extent that its interest should be paramount to decision makers of the party.
We supported Obasanjo presidency twice, even when his zone—southwest, voted against him. We voted massively for Yar’Adua despite being a northerner cum Fulani. We rallied round our Ijaw brother, Goodluck Jonathan in 2011, even when we knew his presidency would delay an Igbo man being in that position. In 2015 when other four regions ganged up against Jonathan, southeast provided unparalleled support to his ill-fated re-election, even when lives and properties of Ndigbo were put at risk across Nigeria. The rest of Nigeria mocked us for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Jonathan in particular—by extension, south-south zone.
In 2019, we gave similar massive support to another northerner cum Fulani, Atiku Abubakar—picking his running mate from the east not withstanding. We have built enough bridges by supporting others. And it is time for others to reciprocate the gesture. We cannot play second fiddle forever. For five years, Ndigbo have been segregated against by Buhari’s government because of our political choices in the past that didn’t favour him. But we have been vindicated by severally rejecting him at the polls, especially when juxtaposed with perennial leadership failure Nigeria has suffered under his watch.
It is heart-wrenching and disappointing that those we laid down our lives in support in the past, cannot be bold enough to campaign for Nigerian president of southeast extraction. Instead, they’re scheming to truncate southeast 2023 aspiration via their own immortal ambitions. Take for instance, the rumors of Jonathan’s interest in 2023 race and his loud silence to it: it is a grave insult on our collective intelligence as Ndigbo. Goodluck Jonathan, haven’t we supported you enough to reciprocate the gesture?
Atiku Abubakar is also nursing ambition even when another northerner will be completing eight-year term by 2023. Like Jonathan, Ndigbo massively supported Atiku in 2019 and are still suffering consequences of it today. Yet both Goodluck Jonathan and Atiku Abubakar have not only maintained conspicuous silence on southeast aspiration, but have the moral promiscuity to be working behind-the-scene to frustrate Southeast ambition. That we have supported the PDP since 1999 doesn’t make us slaves of the party.
In fact, the PDP should be made to understand that they will no longer live rent-free on southeast votes. An average easterner is not wired cum programmed to be sheepishly voting the PDP every election cycle. We might have voted against Buhari in the past but that doesn’t mean we will continue to vote against the APC in the future, because there is no ideological difference between the APC and the PDP—it is just election-purpose vehicle to get into offices.
Governor Wike recently said that the PDP was more interested in winning election than zoning. We got the subtle message: the party won’t win if it zones its presidential ticket to South-East. If South-East votes are that immaterial cum inconsequential, why is the same Governor Wike pained that Umahi and one or two governors of the southeast are leaving the PDP for APC? Isn’t that nauseating hypocrisy? simply because he feels, as the godfather of the PDP, that southeast votes are always a sure bet for the opposition party. Times have changed.
Even if the whole southeast becomes APC today, that is not a warranty that the ruling party will zone its presidential ticket to us, but can be a protest against the PDP that have taken our loyalty cum support, all these years, for granted. APC is not owning us reciprocity but PDP does. Until Atiku Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan, Nyesom Wike, Aminu Tambuwal and other PDP leaders start speaking up in support of Nigerian president of South-East extraction come come 2023, South-East political leaders does not owe them any explanation for leaving the party in droves.
