Victor EzejaFormer national chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo has hinted that to address issue of political injustice and marginalization of the Southeast, Nigeria, the Federal Government should zone the presidential seat to the region in the forthcoming 2023 elections.
Nwodo who made the assertion on Thursday during an interview with Arise TV Morning Show, which was monitored by Prime Business Africa.
He said that would be the only way to end agitations in the Southeast and create lasting peace and harmony in the entire country.
The former governor of Enugu State stated that in the interest of fairness and justice, the Southeast should be given opportunity to have a shot at the presidency in 2023, arguing that since 1960 when Nigeria gained independence, the region has only had six months during the time of Major General Aguiyi Ironsi as military head of state (January to July 1966). He insisted that whether elected as executive president or military dictator, both carried executive powers, and on the basis of that, the southeast remains shortchanged.
He maintained that zoning as a formula for sharing access to power in a country with multiple nationalities like Nigeria, should go beyond political party lines.
He said, “If you look at how the executive powers have emerged in Nigeria, the Southeast only enjoyed the office for six months under Major General Aguiyi Ironsi. Every other part of the country when we talk about the current six geo-political zones has had a shot at ruling this country not less than two times. Therefore, that zone that has never had a shot at presidency has a very strong case. Secondly, that zone has been accusing the federation of monumental marginalization of its people; not to talk about the civil war; we are heading up to 60 years after the civil war and we have not been given any opportunity to stand at the commanding heights of governance in our country”, Nwodo pointed out.
He further stated that the marginalisation has a “monumental level” in the past seven years, where according to him, the Federal Government had been making lopsided appointments to the exclusion of Southeast region.
“We are asking the Federal Republic of Nigeria now and again, what is the crime of the people of the Southeast? Why this permanent marginalization? Why is it that anytime something good is coming to southeast, reasons are manufactured about why it must not go there?” he queried.
Nwodo said people of the Southeast feel they are no longer part of the federation and therefore, despondent, hence the recurring agitations in the region by separatist group.
“It is because of these that our people are agitating passionately, putting their patriotism, capacity, competence and love for the country at the forefront to be given a chance to bring to table the vast talents that the almighty God has placed on our people for the benefit of our country.
“I believe that if the talents from the Southeast are put on the table this country would go far. For you to deny those talents has not benefited our country and will not benefit our country going forward. That’s why we are making this repeated appeal at every opportunity we get; that the political parties going for this election should choose their candidates from the Southeast.
“Other parts of Nigeria have their arguments, but when you want the superior argument to win then you allow it to win.”
He urged the federal government not to jettison the zoning arrangement for presidency, adding that it had been agreed on to rotate between the North and South.
He added that when it comes to Southern Nigeria, the Southwest and South-south should allow the Southeast to produce presidential candidate because the two geopolitical zones have had a shot at the presidency under Obasanjo (eight years) and Goodluck Jonathan (5 years).
“The only thing that will bring equity, justice, fairness, unity and peace to Nigeria is for power to go to the southeast this time”, he asserted, noting that time has come to reunite and give every part and citizen of the country a sense of belonging.
On the issue of the emergence of Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike as presidential candidate, Nwodo said he should in the interest of fairness drop his aspiration to enable Southeast produce the candidate.
In the past few weeks, some political actors have declared Interest in running for the office of presidency across political parties. For the PDP, we have Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Maazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyi, and Senator Bukola Saraki, Governors Aminu Tambuwal and Bala Muhammed.
The PDP on Wednesday had a meeting in Abuja to decide on zoning of presidency in the party but it ended inconclusively.
The party had during its 95th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on March 16, constituted a committee headed by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to come up with an acceptable zoning formula for various elective positions, especially President, Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives.
The party as observers say, is currently in a fix, with the Northern members going for no zoning option and the South clamouring for adoption of zoning which is enshrined in section 7(2)(c) of the party’s constitution, but the provisions cannot be enforced by any court on the ground of breaching the provisions against discrimination of eligible citizens provided for in the the 1999 constitution.
To resolve this, political analysts believe that only consensus among party leaders would save the ship from capsizing as 2023 approaches.
Commenting on the outcome of the PDP zoning meeting on Wednesday, Nwodo said the input of every stakeholders would be sorted and aggregated to form the final decision of the party.
On the emergence of Atiku Abubakar and the threat to Interest of Southeast, Nwodo said people of the geopolitical zone have given him massive support in the previous elections he contested and have this time, appealed to him to support any candidate from the southeast who wins the party’s nomination.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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