A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC in Imo state and the 2019 Governorship aspirant under the umbrella of the Action Alliance in Imo state, Uche Ugwumba Nwosu has re-echoed that the opportunity for the South East geo-political zone to produce the next Nigerian president is not in contest and should not in any way be a struggle with other geo-political zones in Nigeria.
Speaking with our correspondent in Abuja, the former Chief of Staff to the former governor of Imo state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, said anyone who believes in the Nigerian project and wants equity for the country will not argue against a president coming from the South east region.
His words: “Remember that we have six geo-political zones and in the six zones that makes up our political architecture, we have the South and the North; we have the majority and minority, in the minority ethnic groups, we have our brothers from the middle belt and in the south south’, we also have the major ethnic groups, the Hausa Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo.”
“And when you talk about the president of Nigeria, we’ve had a president from the North (because the rotation is between north and south), and then we have had a president from the South West; former president Olusegun Obasanjo; South South former president Goodluck Jonathan and then the North President Muhammadu Buhari; Shehu Shagari, and when you talk about the military Heads of State, we have so many of them from the North, we have to be honest and for everyone who believes in equity and in one Nigeria, will agree with me it is the turn of the south east.”
“It’s the turn of the south east not because we want to give it to the south east, but because it is their right, every other zone has gotten the presidential slot, so for me, I believe that the presidency should come from the south east, but in coming from the south east it should not be a struggle.
The politician called on other zones to lend support for the South East geo-political zone to produce the next President just like the South East has always been doing for other zones that have produced.
“We need the different geo-political zones to also buy into the idea of allowing the region produce the next president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.
He insisted: “We need the West; South South; Middle Belt; North Central; North East and North West zones, these five other geo-political zones should come together to support anybody who emerges from the South East.”
“I am in support of it, I believe in it, but we also need to reach out to all leaders of thought to actualize these dream.”
Hon. Nwosu whose foray into the politics of Imo state unsettled many when he eventually expressed his desire to be the governor of the state prior to the 2019 election is also of the view that the South East needs to reach out.
“It’s a different thing when you communicate a desire to have something with a tone that reflects simplicity and not force. The manner of approach with which we reach out to the other geo-political zones will make it easier for us.”
“If we approach them nicely , they will say let’s give them, but if we employ a forceful approach and abuse people, it will be difficult for us to get it”.
