2023: ‘They’re All Interested ‘-Ndigbo React To S/East Governors’ Boycott Of Meeting At Kalu’s Home

Some Igbo stakeholders, Thursday, say the boycott of Tuesday’s Southeast stakeholders’ meeting held at Igbere, the country home of Senate Chief Whip Dr Orji Uzor Kalu was a sign of a clash of interests ahead of the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria.

THE WHISTLER reported that the Southeast political stakeholders, including Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Chief Pius Anyim, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, Chief Chekwas Okorie, Hon Nkeiru Onyejeocha, and Hon Benjamin Kalu, during the meeting, demanded all political parties in Nigeria to zone their presidential tickets to the Southeast for the sake of equity, justice and fairness.

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However, no governor from the region attended the meeting. Ebonyi State governor and chairman of the Southeast Governors’ Forum, Engr Dave Umahi, in a statement on behalf of other governors, said they were not part of the planning.

Some of those interviewed absolved the governors, stating that they should have been fully involved in the planning. In view of the co-convener, All Citizens Action Movement and governorship hopeful in Anambra State in 2021, Nze Kanayo Chukwumezie, “For high-profile politicians to organize such meetings, it is recommended that they involve the governors who are the current leaders of the Igbo states.

“Though the problems may not really be that the governors were not involved, it may be that the governors arrogantly want to be the ones doing everything. This is one of the causes of our backwardness as a region. We are yet to learn the dynamics of politics and political arithmetic. It does not matter who initiates what should benefit us as a region before all should key in.”

For Prof James Ile, critic and lecturer, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, “It portends something very bad. You can see they are all interested in the office of the president, and are all willing to subvert themselves and the office! Well, I’m not sure my advice will matter to them, but I’ll still give it anyway: they should come together regardless of party affiliations and choose two possible Igbo presidential candidates for both the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.”

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Hon Sheddy Ozoene, past chairman, Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, praised the initiatives of the planners of the meeting, adding that coming together of Southeast political stakeholders across parties was an indication of light at the end of the tunnel. Quoting him, “The call by Senator Ekweremadu, Chief Anyim, Dr Kalu, etc, is in order, and in consonance with the expectations of the people of the Southeast. The mere fact that those political leaders are from different political parties means the call is not borne out of narrow political considerations.

“I support it in the interest of equity and justice. I am optimistic that the major parties will heed to this call which will help strengthen our nation. It is unfortunate that governors of the SE say they were not carried along, but it is not enough justification for their objection to the meeting. Ndigbo expect their leaders to close ranks and speak with one voice on issues to do with 2023.”

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