Floats Clearing House For All AspirantsNDIGBO's most difficult question at this point is whether 2015 would be a reality and how to plot the road that would take the people of Southeast to Aso rock.Going by the passion with which Ndigbo has confronted the vexatious issue, it is clear that anything short of the presidency will not suffice. But that is not to say that consensus has been reached on the matter. That is because a segment of Ndigbo still holds the view that President Jonathan has not made himself very clear on 2015. Those who think that Jonathan remains a crucial factor in deciding Ndigbo's space in 2015 have come under the bashing of the people.Governor Peter Obi allegedly led some indigenes of Anambra State to persuade the Jonathan to run in 2015, and had been branded a 'traitor on prowl to mislead and deceive Ndigbo.'In a statement made available in Enugu, Igbo for Presidency Organisation (IFPO) insists that Obi and his group lack the approval of the people to endorse Jonathan, stressing that their statements were mere political jokes to deceive the president.The statement signed by John Mgbeahuruike and Dick Izuora, national coordinator and technical adviser respectively made it clear that there was no going back on the quest for Ndigbo to produce the president in 2015.However, going by the peculiar nature of Ndigbo, the road to 2015 appears more tasking than what many people think in the zone.This is because apart from disunity, which has become a generational issue, Ndigbo has no political party of her own, a party that could drive the people's desire to occupy Aso Rock. Added to that is the character of the leaders, which is hopeless when it comes to appointments and contracts.The Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nduka Eya, said recently that Ndigbo's quest for 2015 is a matter of seeking justice, fairness and the advancement of democracy. He stressed that should Nigeria be allowed to exist as one indivisible country, components that make up the country should be allowed to test power at centre.Eya said, ' We have had our bitter experience as Ndigbo, we built this country because we believe in it. If you check out this country, almost all the sections have ruled, and we say does it mean that these people own this country' If we say we are a federation, you should allow other units opportunity to leadership.'The Ohanaeze scribe insists that President Jonathan would be living with moral burden should he venture for another term in 2015, stressing that if that happens, 'Ndigbo will come together and review their stand for the next line of action.'Another challenge for Ndigbo is how to open up contacts with other geo-political zones, as Igbo votes alone would not give them the presidency. Some say this could be worked out.For instance, Eya said Ndigbo has generated enough goodwill that could make other zones support Igbo aspiration, stressing that no singular zone of the country had made much sacrifice like Igbos had done so far.He said Ohanaeze led in the discussion with the South-south, resulting in the presidency of Jonathan, and that it would lead Igbo groups and leaders to engage in negotiation with other zones to make the presidency possible.'We built this country; we live in every part of Nigeria. We have investments all over the country; this is in line with our belief in the country called Nigeria. Therefore, if we in the past played second fiddle and worked for the interest of candidates from other segments of the country, time has come now for them to support us,' he stated.He is not alone on this; former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo told the Guardian that Ndigbo would demand support of other zones as a matter of right and as reparation for the support she had given to other sections before now.'Our people have campaigned in the past for other people; we have agreed to serve in any capacity for the unity, peace and interest of the country. We shall demand that they give us back our support among other sacrifices should they want us to continue to live as one country,' he said.The absence of a reliable political party that could advance the aspiration of the Ndigbo is a big factor, especially now that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) seems to be in disarray.Prince Nwafor Orizu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), while elaborating on the hurdles confronting Ndigbo towards 2015, said there is no zonal forum that could speak for the people.According to Orizu, a forum has become necessary because 'Igboland has become a political fishing pond for every Tom, Dick and Harry. There is no sense of unity or direction for the Southeast zone; it is every man to himself. In spite of the clamour for Igbo presidency, there is no coordinated effort to either actualize it or settle for the second or even third best. Can we blame outsiders who treat us like vassal states since we have demonstrated a glaring inability to organise ourselves' We are selfish and self-centered. No one cares about the common good of the Igbo.'He said all these put together had in the past robbed Ndigbo of the presidency, adding that despite the position Ndigbo occupy in Nigeria, it has continued to slide in appointive and elective positions in the country.'In the First Republic, Igbos produced a president, senate president and a host of other important positions. In the Second Republic, Igbos were the vice president and Speaker of the House of Representatives. In the Third Republic, the Igbos produced senate president position. In this Republic of our generation we got nothing except deputies,' he disclosed.Asserting however that Ndigbo remains the only zone that had not produced the president since 1960, Orizu noted that it would not be in the interest of the zone to set time frame without a strategy to accompany it.This according to him had become necessary owing to the tinkering of the rotation clause by the PDP, with the emergence of Jonathan as president in 2011.'Before now, there was no organisation that can negotiate on behalf of the Southeast zone, to articulate our position. There exist different organisations and the other zones insist that they do not know who to speak to,' he said recalling that the South-south forum held crucial meetings with the Southwest, but the Southeast was not represented,' he said.Embattled national chairman of APGA, chief Victor Umeh, said the major priority of the Igbo at this period is to work to ensure the reduction of friction among her people.Although he agreed that no zone in the country was free from bickering, that of Ndigbo is on the high side.Umeh said Ndigbo would feature and support political parties which zone their presidency to the Southeast in 2015, adding that the PDP was not the only political party that could offer the platform for Igbo presidency.Chief Ralph Obioha, immediate past national chairman of the Justice Partysaid that there are very many eminent Igbo who could take the presidency of this country as well as take the country to greater heights.He stated however, that mentioning such names this time may not be in the interest of those concerned, stressing however, that PDP was the platform that could give Ndigbo the presidency in view of the spread of the party.'We have a wide pool of individuals who could be president anytime they are called upon and given their wealth of experience, they can do better in the effort to lift this country,' Obioha said.He warned that it would be unfair should other zones deny the Igbo the support on the basis of equity, justice and fair play.ProspectsAPPARENTLY, not to give anything to chance, Ndigbo had begun mobilisation in earnest for 2015, forming groups and setting targets for itself.One of such group is the South-East Forum (SEF), intended to be the political platform, a sort of clearing-house for the zone.A former presidential aspirant and national chairman of the Forum, Dr Ezekiel Izuogu told the Guardian that, 'if the Igbo is not to fall into the trap of divide and rule tactics of our detractors from other geo-political zones of this competitive nation, then we must deal with only one political platform and direct all those who wish to negotiate with us to do so on that platform.'He said the Forum is about the political interest of Ndigbo, and it is out to ensure that Igbo is treated fairly like every other Nigerian.'Accordingly, the SEF will vigorously pursue the quest for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction come 2015. This is a fair quest because, of all the six geo-political zones, only the Southeast is yet to produce Nigeria's president,' he said.On how to make this work, Izuogu stated that the SEF was determined to make all Southeast politicians speak with one voice on the matter, and to ensure that only qualified persons from the zone are given opportunity, no matter their political parties. He said any Igbo man who had exhibited excessive love for money or had compromised the collective interest of the people, shall stand disqualified from holding office.The Forum has the five governors of the zone as members, including, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa, Chief mbazuruike Amechi, Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu, Justice Eze Ozobu, president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe and Ezeogo Agom Eze as members, is already being replicated in the local governments and communities within the Southeast, all in the bid to mobilise support for the 2015 presidency.Former Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Prof Elo Amucheazi, while appraising the moves made so far, said there was need for some realignment among Igbo political class if they expect to gain political power in the country.
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