First Free Community Hospital Takes Off In Enugu

Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu

The first ever-free community hospital is billed for commissioning in Enugu State next week.

Built by the traditional ruler of Ubogidi/Ozalla Autonomous Community in Nsukka Local Council, Chief Samuel Ikechukwu Asadu, the hospital will provide free medical and maternal services to the people.

The 20-bed-space health facility is equipped with scanning machine, ultra sound, laboratory, eye clinic equipment and a standby 750 KVA power generating set, to ease the pain of accessing medical services by villagers.

Ahead of the commissioning on December 27, by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, about 20 patients diagnosed with different ailments had already been treated free of charge.

Asadu, a nurse of over 24 years in Dallas Texas, USA said the hospital project was to give back to the community, rather than wait for the state and Federal Government to do so.

Meanwhile, Asadu had earlier renovated two primary schools in the community.

He said: “My intention is not to make money from the hospital, but to touch lives. The hospital renders free medical attention for both minor and major cases. irrespective of gender. I engaged two medical doctors, 10 nurses and other paramedical assistants for the operation at the hospital. The hospital is free for my community, while others will pay for services rendered to enable management maintain the pace, purchase drugs and pay salaries,” he stated.

Chairman of the board of the hospital, Prof. Felix Asogwa, praised the donor for conceiving the idea.

-------------------LAWRENCE NJOKU/THE GUARDIAN

Anambra: Obiano, Bianca Ojukwu And 2021 Governorship

Bianca Ojukwu

BY LAWRENCE NJOKU

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain and wife of Eze Igbo Gburugburu, the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, Mrs. Bianca Ojukwu is not new to controversy. She is also not cowed by circumstances that could make her not to speak her mind the way it matters to her.

Last Monday, the former beauty queen stirred controversy that has garnered both praise and condemnation from the public, with her description of Anambra State governor, Willie Obiano as an “ingrate.”

The event was the second memorial lecture in honour of her late husband, held inside the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra State. Obiano was absent at the event.

Bianca, who was apparently enraged by the governor’s absence, had thrown caution to the wind when it was her turn to address the audience. Rather than speak on the event of the day, she turned her fury against Obiano and gave him a piece of her mind.

Observing all protocol at the capacity-filled hall, which also included the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Nkem Okeke, who represented Obiano, she had expressed regret and consternation that it was the second time the governor would stay away from the programme.

Apparently referring to the role the late Ikemba played in installing the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) government in the state since 2006, through former Governor Peter Obi, who handed the baton to Obiano, the widow of the respected Igbo leader reminded the governor to be guided by history and not bite the fingers that fed him.

Turning to Okeke, she said: “Tell the governor that today is yet again the memorial lecture and posthumous birthday of that man he rode on his political structure to stardom and he is once more not present. Tell him that his actions regarding the man who everyone is here for, but he couldn’t find time as governor of his state to be here, is very much like that of an ingrate. Tell him that he shouldn’t be afraid because there are no evil spirits here to attack him.”

Her comments have since continued to elicit reactions, even from her immediate family. While there are those who have excitedly cheered her for her boldness, others wondered how the governor’s absence from a posthumous birthday could elicit such jabs, especially since Obiano sent his Deputy to represent him, to enable him attend other official engagements.

Interestingly, it was Obiano who signed into law the change of name of Anambra State University to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University. He was also privy to the second memorial lecture.

Meanwhile, the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, which provided the platform that was used to disparage the governor, has also denied Mrs Ojukwu.

Also, Chief Emeka Ojukwu, son of the late Ikemba Nnewi, had distanced himself from Mrs Ojukwu’s outburst.

Indeed, it was revealed that the state government had continued to care for the family of the late Ikemba right from the days of Peter Obi as governor. The family is reportedly receiving a statutory monthly allocation, while the position of Special Adviser is said to be exclusively reserved for the family, as a way of appreciating Ojukwu’s contributions to the party and state.

Sources said this position was once occupied by Emeka Ojukwu, and when he left, one Robert Okonkwo, who was allegedly nominated by Bianca took over the position. Bianca is not only seen as the APGA leader’s wife but also as a member of the party’s Board of Trustees (BOT).

Possible Reasons That Stoked Tension Between Bianca And Obiano
Although it was not the first time Mrs. Ojukwu was said to have indirectly attacked the governor, many reasons have continued to surface on what possibly could have derailed the relationship that resulted in the recent brickbats. While some hinged it on a possible stoppage of the statutory allocation and position in government, others said it goes beyond what Obiano can handle.

Indeed, many who have closely followed developments in the state would readily agree that the vituperations might not have arisen because of Obiano’s failure to attend the memorial lecture and posthumous birthday ceremony of the late Ikemba, especially since he was represented by his Deputy.

The Guardian gathered that it might not be unconnected with a broken-down relationship that occurred, following Bianca Ojukwu’s inability to grab the Anambra South senatorial ticket of APGA in the 2019 National Assembly election.

Sources indicated how much she had wanted the position and had “recruited” certain individuals and groups to “pressure” the party to award the ticket automatically to her without having to contend with any other aspirant in the name of the party primary.

It was further gathered that most people were of the opinion that she would easily win the ticket, considering that her late husband was APGA leader until his death.

There was also the thinking that since Ojukwu’s death, Bianca had associated with APGA and has been participating in all its activities. Indeed, during the last governorship election, there was hardly any major political rally she did not attend to deliver powerful speeches.

Many political analysts were of the view that it was Ojukwu’s influence that made it possible for APGA to have the strong hold on Anambra State politics, and that one way to appreciate the late Ikemba’s contributions for APGA’s consistent excellent performance in the state, would have been to allow his widow to take Ojukwu’s name to the Senate. Her closeness with the governor was seen as another great advantage.

Things moved smoothly in her favour. Many prominent people across Igbo land were said to have come together in a bid to sponsor her for the race by contributing needed fund for her campaign.

However, hitches began to emerge, when the Ojukwu family held a press conference in Abuja, saying they were opposed to her becoming a senator for Anambra State. Their main reason was that she hailed from Enugu State and that it was improper for her to occupy a position meant for someone from Anambra South.

The dust raised by the press conference was yet to settle, when Obiano, who is the party leader, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT), announced that a level playing ground would be provided for all aspirants for the position.

Among the contestants were Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Bianca Ojukwu, Chief Ifeanyi Uba, who was later disqualified on the ground that he did not obtain a waiver from the party to contest on its platform in line with its Constitution and Anslem Enyimba, a banker.

Obiano was said to have reasoned that the candidates were so formidable and qualified that anything short of equal playing field could affect the state going forward.

When the primary eventually held, Ukachukwu floored Bianca and was declared the winner and issued with the certificate to contest the election, to the former beauty queen’s dismay.

It is being interpreted that Bianca sacrificed much in ensuring the governor’s victory and had expected him to reciprocate the gesture. She was, therefore, disappointed that he could not bring his influence in the party and government to bear in determining the election, which could have been won for the first time by the party.

The source added that since then, cold war had begun. Some of the attacks that Obiano had allegedly suffered on social media are linked to the media team, the IBOM Group; she set up during the botched senatorial election.

We Will Not War With Her – Government
However, Anambra State government has said it would not engage in any manner of press war with Mrs Ojukwu who is revered in the state.

Mr. Don Adinuba, Commissioner of Information, said the state government was interested in accelerating developments that could uplift the people’s wellbeing, stressing that it would not want to be diverted from its focus.

Furthermore, a release made available to The Guardian from the Deputy Chief Press Secretary, Emeka Ozumba, also dissociated the governor’s wife, Eberechukwu Obiano from statements making the rounds that she had responded to Mrs. Ojukwu.

Ozumba said in the release that the purported statement was the handiwork of those not happy with the phenomenal progress the state had recorded in various areas in recent years, leading the whole country in such fields as financial resource management, security, education, peace and stability, among others.

He agreed, however, that Mrs. Ojukwu “choose an event to honour the husband to make remarks which infra dig, that is, incompatible with her status.”

Bianca’s Vituperation And 2021 Governorship Election
There are growing concerns that the deepening animosity should be checked, especially considering APGA’s desire to retain the state in 2021. Although sources have queried Mrs Ojukwu’s capacity to win the Anambra South senatorial election had the ticket been granted her, based on the presence of heavy politicians paraded by other political parties in the zone like the Ubas, the feelings are that prosecuting the election as a united front would impact the party’s chances.

A chieftain of the party, Slyvanus Okoro, stated that the implication of such public remarks showed that “even our BOT is not working together.”

He said: “We don’t need this kind of divisions in the party. Not after what we went through during the 2019 general elections in the state and other parts of the country that still linger here and there.

“I think if the BOT, which should show direction, is working together, it will help salvage this party and prepare it for the battle ahead. We cannot afford another round of crisis.

“Politics is about to give and take. It has never been smooth. It is filled with disappointments. What we didn’t get today, we can get tomorrow. We cannot leverage on lost opportunity to create an air of disunity. There are many opportunities we can create in the party if we work together.

“So I beckon on Iyom Bianca Ojukwu to sheath her sword. The lost opportunity should be used as an added political experience to prepare her in the future. Let us not pull down the roof of the house for our individual benefits.”

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

I Never Apologised For Hailing Gowon, Says Moghalu

Kingsley Moghalu and Yakubu Gowon. Image: Moghalu via The Guardian.

BY LAWRENCE NJOKU

ENUGU (THE GUARDIAN) -- Former Presidential candidate of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has clarified that he never apologised to Ndigbo or any other Nigerian for hailing former head of state, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd.) in a personal message he sent to him during his birthday recently.

The former deputy governor of the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) said that in his speech at the second Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Memorial Lecture held at the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Igbariam, Anambra state on Monday, he apologised to persons whose sensitivities were offended by his use of the word ‘humane’ in describing Gowon based on his personal knowledge of the general.

“My apology to the sensitivity of such persons is a very different thing from repudiating my birthday message to Gen. Gowon, which I did not do.

“Having information and a perspective from my personal relationship with Gen. Gowon, which was not available to those who reacted on the social media to my message, their misunderstanding of my birthday message as an ‘endorsement’ of the deaths of their loved ones is understandable but regrettable.

“That is why I felt an apology and further explanation on that particular point was necessary. But I did not repudiate my birthday message to Gen. Gowon.”

The Guardian had reported yesterday that the politician apologised for hailing Gowon.

Moghalu stressed that it was wrong to interpret a birthday message he sent to Gowon as “being insensitive to the deaths of our family members, young and old, during the terrible civil war.”

He added, “This was far from my intention because in my message I urged Gen. Gowon to step forward and play a leadership role in bringing the painful issue of the civil war and its lessons to closure so that Nigeria can heal. Because clearly, despite the no victor, no vanquished policy, Igbo people have remained heavily discriminated against in Nigeria in many ways, in particular in the political terrain in which there appears to be an unspoken conspiracy to prevent a person of Igbo ethnic nationality from becoming president of Nigeria.

“I am deeply sorry and apologise, to everyone whose sensitivity I offended if I mistakenly conveyed the impression that I, as an Igbo man, was uncaring about the millions of people, mostly Igbo, that perished in the war. Nothing could have been farther from the truth or my intentions.”

Moghalu, however, asked Ndigbo to put the pains of the civil war experience behind them and move on for the peace and development of the nation.

Between FG’s N10b Enugu Airport Intervention And Infrastructure Abandonment In Southeast

Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi. Image: Facebook

BY LAWRENCE NJOKU

ENUGU (THE GUARDIAN) -- SouthEast is not new to complaints. Anybody who has followed events in the zone closely since the end of the civil war will readily affirm that allegation of marginalisation by successive administrations of the country holds sway among its people. Although time has proven that the allegations are not imaginary but real, what has continued to agitate the minds, however, is when this negative toga could be removed from the zone.

Last Monday, governors, and leaders of the zone were at it again when they met at the Government House, Enugu. The meeting, which held behind closed doors for over four hours, was attended by Governors Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Deputy Governor, Nkem Okeke of Anambra State.

Others included president general, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo; former Enugu State governor, Jim Nwobodo, National Assembly caucus from the zone represented by their leader, Sen Enyinnaya Abaribe, religious leaders and traditional rulers among others.

When they rose, Umahi, who is chairman, Southeast Governors’ Forum had told reporters: “We have resolved that we are going to see the president about the welfare of the southeast. That is what we resolved. When we come back, we will give you the content of our meeting with Mr President.”

Although he refused to disclose in details what Ndigbo wanted to discuss with the president and probably why the issue of “welfare” of the zone has become so worrisome that it should be resurrected at this time, however, those who are familiar with the terrain in Igboland would readily agree that it was same old story – infrastructure abandonment.

It was not the first time Igbos were raising concerns about their welfare. In fact, it was not also the first attempt at bringing President Muhammadu Buhari up to speed with happenings in the zone.

During the first term of the administration in 2015, governors of the zone had led other Igbo leaders to congratulate President Buhari over his electoral victory and used the opportunity to present the various needs of the zone to him.
Part of their demand, which had continued to reverberate is the parlous state of Enugu-Onitsha road; the Enugu-Port Harcourt road; the Onitsha-Owerri road; the moribund industries in the Southeast; the completion of Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu; the 2nd Niger Bridge and the Onitsha dry port project. They had insisted that developments had eluded the zone resulting in a plethora of agitations from its youths who could not find paid employment after graduation.

Although the president had given assurances that he would look into some of the demands within available resources, nothing tangible had happened since then; in fact, some policies and decisions taken by the administration have worsened the situation of the zone with its economy almost at a standstill.

A source stated that the president’s appointments further compounded things for the zone. He stated that apart from the absence of Southeast in the security architecture of the country, several other key areas have been denied the zone or skewed against it.

The source referred to the multi-million naira rail track rehabilitation project, the gas line power projects, continuous dereliction of federal roads and other intervention projects which the administration initiated in various parts of the country did not put the southeast zone into consideration.

Former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu had summarised the hapless development when he said that the president’s negative perception against Ndigbo was not amenable.

Nworgu had, in an interview with The Guardian, where he lamented the deplorable state of Ndigbo called on the people of the zone not to expect anything from the Buhari administration, stressing that he was speaking from precedence.

“When he was the chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), go and check the record and see the number of contracts he awarded and executed in the Southeast and the number of contracts he awarded and executed in his own zone. He showed so much bias against the region.

“In 1983, when the Military struck and he took over the reins of power from the civilian administration of Shehu Shagari, he placed Shagari, who was the head of government with constitutional power under house arrest in his house and remanded Alex Ekwueme, who was the Vice President without constitutional powers in prison. So, I don’t expect anything to change for Ndigbo because he does not think that we are part of the country. He still believes that we are a conquered people who should be relegated to the background,” Nworgu had said.

It was revealed that Monday’s emergency meeting of the leaders at Government House, Enugu was called following developments considered dangerous over the closure of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, the only federal presence in the zone still operational.

The airport, which was closed to traffic on August 24 to pave way for the repair and expansion of its runway, has remained without activity as there was neither contract nor any contractor insight to begin the rehabilitation plan.

The propaganda that preceded the shut down had all kinds of obstructions blamed on the government of Enugu State, especially with an abattoir and radio mast that were said to have created safety concerns which government was allegedly not willing to relocate.

Minister of Aviation, Hadi Siriki, who had in an earlier meeting with leaders of the zone given an assurance that the airport would be reopened before December for use by Christmas holidaymakers, suddenly announced last week that there were no funds to prosecute the rehabilitation works.

He had further said to the bewilderment of the zone that a princely N10 billion was required to effectively handle whatever challenges the airport was faced with, especially at its domestic wing.

Voices, concerns, and suspicions had begun to gather in the zone. A wave of tension was building up, especially against an allegation that there was an intended plot to perpetually keep the Southeast down and out of the scheme of things in the country and that the closure of the airport was the last straw.

Even in its derelict state, the airport became a beehive of activities and economic nerve centre of the Southeast providing accommodation for local and international flights with the Ethiopian Airline operating in it.

Even the reports that in order to keep to its promise to deliver the airport in record time, the Ministry of Aviation had moved to raise mobilisation funds for the contractor that handled the resurfacing work on the runway in 2010 could not provide succour. Of the N1 billion allegedly being demanded, the Ministry was said to have raised N300 million, which is paid to the company. The company was said to have decided to withdraw since the money demanded could not be raised and in the absence of an award letter from the Federal Government.

Sources close to the Enugu meeting explained that the growing unease led to exhaustively deliberations, where the options to approach the presidency on the development, was struck.

Sources, however, disclosed that the leaders had agreed to ask the presidency for “special funding for the airport since it was not in the budget or return home to look inwards for funds to undertake the project.”

This was said to have been based on rumours that there were no funds to prosecute the jobs as well as the plethora of awarded jobs in the zone that lie in abandonment due to paucity of funds.

Checks by The Guardian revealed that Opi-Ninth Mile-Udi-Anambra border road had been awarded, so are sections of Enugu-Port Harcourt, Enugu-Onitsha highways, Aba-Owerri and Aba-Port Harcourt roads among others in the zone, but while some are yet to take off, the ones that took off after their awards have been abandoned.

However, meeting with the President last Thursday ended with the announcement of the approval of the N10 billion intervention fund for the upgrade of the airport.

President Buhari, who said he had received the assurance of the Minister of Aviation that the rehabilitation work would be done speedily and to the highest standards, added, “even as we have many items competing for our limited resources, we will continue to prioritise infrastructure investments in every part of the country. It is our responsibility to ensure Nigeria’s infrastructure is fixed. We will keep doing this.”

News about the approval of funds for the airport had elicited some mixed reactions from some residents, the majority of whom believed that there was no justification to have allowed the facility to depreciate before an intervention.

Others queried the idea of subjecting leaders to begging before anything from the government could be done in their zone, stressing that, it was unfair that Igbos should be looked upon as “beggars to be considered for a development project.”

They insisted that it had always taken a visit to the president in Abuja for any “project to come under execution in the Southeast zone,” stressing, “so far, none of such projects had been completed.”

“We hope the approval is given executive backing to ensure that it does not end up like other past approvals whose jobs are still uncompleted in the zone. Let the president march his pronouncement with action and with this, we know that something has been done for the Southeast,” it was noted.

There were others who insisted that had such intervention been made in other sectors of the zone, it would have helped to uplift and boost its economic potentials, adding that, the president would have changed the negative perception about him with the realisation of the upgrade.

Emeritus President, Aka Ikenga, Chief Goddy Uwazurike, however, insisted that the approval was one among other long hurdles that needed to be achieved before the work was started and completed.

He said: “The Federal Government closed the airport without arrangements for its repairs. So, we acknowledge the first step, which is the approval of N10 billion. The next hurdles are there – budget, Bureau of Public procurement and contract award. Finally, the release of the contract sum will be the toughest stage. What these hurdles mean is that the residents of the affected areas have a long way to go before the airport is reopened. May I pose this question; where else in this country must the leaders go cap in hand before the government will perform its duty?”

But a Civil Rights Activist, Kennedy Enwerem told The Guardian, “I think the models that are following are not working. It is the private sector that should drive all these and I think they should sign the road/transport sector bill to encourage private sector participation in the maintenance and rehabilitation of infrastructure.

“Like the situation we have in the zone, the Federal Government should ask the Southeast governors to rebuild the roads in their domain and manage them for some time. I can assure you, we will find a private sector that will take over these roads and reconstruct them. The Federal Government does not have all the funds; it is bugged with so many challenges that require funding. The Ministry of Works under Fashola awarded several roads that have not taken off. They hold the Federal Executive Council meeting every week with awards here and there and end up executing none. That is the problem.”

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

2023: Ndi Igbo And Clamour For Southeast Presidency

BY LAWRENCE NJOKU

A new consciousness is gradually enveloping the South East, and it has to do with what role it will play as the nation grapples with power sharing come 2023. Ordinarily, going into such discussion at the moment, especially when grievances that arose from the last general elections (held five months ago) are still unresolved, could be considered too premature, but the momentum that it has gathered so far in the zone indicates that the time for that discussion is now.

However, as alignment and re-alignments continue, the main political actors are divided into three broad groups- those angling for an Igbo Presidency come 2023, those clamouring for a restructuring of the polity, as well as those who are only interested in the declaration of a Sovereign State of Biafra.

President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, while speaking on a political programme on Channels Television, recently, said that from the way the country’s Constitution was framed, it would be difficult for any President to make any meaningful impact without the country being restructured.

In what looked like the socio-cultural group’s position, Nwodo stated that he preferred a situation, where the “country is restructured to guarantee true federalism than allocating the Presidency from time to time to the zones.

“I hate this idea of donating the Presidency to any section of the country in the name of sense of belonging. I prefer the restructuring of the country to make the office of the President less attractive. The office of the President has been made too important by the amount of power that the Constitution has vested on it. I don’t share in power-sharing, but I believe in getting the foundation right and working. I don’t know what miracle any President can perform in attempting to develop the country, no matter his best of intentions, with a jaundiced Constitution as ours.”

Nwodo further underscored the importance of restructuring to Ndi Igbo when he stated that the preponderance of opinions before the election was in favour of restructuring and that they were going to support any candidate that worked towards the restructuring of the country.

He added that it was for that simple reason that Ohanaeze endorsed the candidacy “of Atiku Abubakar because he accepted to restructure the country,” adding that similar groups and regions in the country, including Middle Belt, South South, PANDEF, Afenifere among others, have accepted restructuring as the only way to move the country forward.

A former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, took a more daring position when he said that it would take a miracle for the country to produce a President of Igbo extraction, stressing that the Igbo has been systematically confined to certain political limits in the country.

Wabara, who fell short of asking those clamouring for an Igbo presidency to perish their thoughts, added that “there won’t be any chance for an Igbo Presidency in 2023… there can only be Igbo presidential candidates from some unpopular political parties to satisfy all righteousness.

“Furthermore, there shall be no basis for Ndi Igbo to negotiate with other regions when those regions are equally interested, and even more financially ready. We are on our own. Nobody wants us to get near Aso Rock.”

Without word mincing, a former National Auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Ray Nnaji says that the South East would not be ripe for the Presidency come 2023, hence there is no need for the hullabaloo because there exists no structure in the region that could deliver such a candidate.

“It all depends on what the PDP wants. If the decision of the Supreme Court (Atiku Vs Buhari) is not favourable to the party (PDP), and it wants to win election in 2023, it should allow zoning to remain in the North, but if it wants to lose the next election, it should zone the office to the South East. It will be difficult for a candidate of the South East to beat a candidate from the North because of their population, and other indices that are in their favour.

“To be frank with you, if you don’t have structures, you cannot win elections in this country. The North has a very strong structure, but the Southeast has no structure to win a national election in 2023. So, the best bet is for the zone to play along with the North to give them the Presidency,” he said in an interview.

Earlier on, a former Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu expressed similar views when he told The Guardian that the North was key to an Igbo man becoming Nigeria’s President in 2023, based on the 1999 Constitution, which he said gave the North a lot of advantages over other parts of the country.

“Check the requirements for anybody to be declared President from votes garnered in the election, and also look at the fact of the number of states that exist in the area, and other factors they have earned by having their own in power for a long time, you will know that no one zone can go it without their support,” he said.

Nworgu added that there was a clear distinction between politicking and fairness, explaining that as much as he encourages the clamour for an Igbo Presidency, Nigeria must restructure to make the centre less attractive and cede some powers to the states that make up the country.

As a step towards realising the restructuring of the country, Ndi Igbo, last year, launched a road map in Awka, Anambra State in what was dubbed the “Awka declaration.” The meeting attracted leaders of the Southwest, Middle Belt, South South and compatriots from Southern Kaduna.

In that gathering held at the Alex Ekwueme Square were new Yoruba leader, Prof Banji Akintoye, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Chief Olu Falae, Yinka Odumakin, former Ondo State governor, Olusegun Mimiko; Air Commodore Dan Sulaiman, Dr. John Darah, and Chief Edwin Clark, with notable sons like Nwodo, former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Governor Wille Obiano of Anambra State, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, who chaired the gathering, former governor, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Chief Guy Ikokwu, former Ohanaeze Secretary-General, Dr. Nwaorgu, among several others.

A former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Prof. Charles Soludo, also at the event, presented a 10-point demand that included, resource control, regional government based on the six existing geo-politicall zones, fiscal federalism, devolution of power, additional state for the Southeast before further creation of states, removal of local government creation and funding from Federal Government, rotational presidency, six-year single term with six vice presidents, among others, to form the nucleus of restructuring.

Soludo lent further credence to the position adopted thus: “The position of Ndi Igbo is to seek a transformed Nigeria that works for every Nigerian citizen, a level playing field for all Nigerians to enjoy freedom, liberty,fairness, equity and justice to maximise their fullest potential. Ndi Igbo are uniquely positioned, by virtue of their huge stake in Nigeria, to join hands with every willing party to champion a pan-Nigeria agenda. We do not seek any preferential or differential treatment from Nigeria.

“Ndi Igbo want a Nigeria that works to maximise their security, prosperity, and happiness. Igbo also want a Nigeria that allows every part of Nigeria the latitude and opportunity to develop at their own pace. We want a national conversation to create a new and better Nigeria for all Nigerians.”

Recommendations in the document were inputs obtained from a 100-man Igbo Committee, set up in 2017, by Ohanaeze Ndigbo to look into various aspects of Igbo in the continued existence of the country, to identify the governance structure among other new areas that the zone could fit into in one indivisible entity.

But beyond the consultations, dialogues and agreements reached that may have enthroned the restructuring gambit, lies a cacophony of voices, calling for the jettisoning of the idea in favour of a President of Igbo extraction in 2023 who, according to them, will begin the process of restructuring in the overall interest of Nigeria.

This group’s clamour is accentuated by the position taken by elder statesmen Chief Clark, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Gen. Ishola Williams, and Senator Emmanuel Bwuacha among others, who are all in support of Igbo Presidency in 2023.

Despite what others are saying, these statesmen and many others are sufficiently persuaded that it was indeed time for the Southeast to take up the top job after President Muhammadu Buhari ends his second term in 2023, in keeping with the spirit of zoning of political offices.

The campaigners for South East Presidency insist that the South East remains the only zone in the country that has yet to taste presidency since the country’s independence, arguing that it would be unfair and may breach the existing peace and unity in the country should the zone be denied the opportunity to produce the president after Buhari.

Be that as it may, as a way of advancing the call, several meetings, associations, and groups are springing up by the day to persuade other zones to support the quest, and also get the buy-in of people of the region.For instance, since the South East for President 2023 Movement (SEFORP2023) was launched, in Enugu, on April 30, 2019, the clamour for an Igbo president has remained upswing, and several state chapters have been launched in readiness for dialogue and advocacy with segments of the country from the first quarter of next year, while also working to ensure that there is unity of purpose among Ndi Igbo.

SEFORP2023 Grassroots Organiser and Diaspora Coordinator, Nkolika Mkparu, told The Guardian that the time was right for South East to take up the mantle.She said: “The time is right because the people from the zone are part of this great nation and have made commensurate contributions in all spheres of growth, and national development. Take it from any position, southeasterners are on top as the most liberal of all ethnic groups in the country. There is no town or village in Nigeria where a person from the South East is not found doing one thing, or the other, no matter how small, and contributing to the growth and development of the economy.

“All other zones have tasted the Presidency, some more than twice; and for 63 years, the leadership of our nation has not moved to the Southeast, hence equity, justice, and fairness demands that South East should be allowed to produce the next President

Mkparu said there was no conflict between the group and the Ohanaeze Ndigbo over the positions that they have adopted, explaining that, “to have the President of Nigeria come from the South East, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s support for restructuring are not mutually exclusive. Restructuring is a kind of reaffirmation that Ndi Igbo believes in Nigeria, and how to continue to make it work efficiently. A car runs with many pistons firing at the same time to make the car work efficiently.

She stated that secessionist agitations were fuelled by a dysfunctional structure that has robbed Ndi Igbo politically, economically and otherwise, adding that, “a President from the South East will help reassure our youths that they have a future in Nigeria and that they have rights that are protected by the Constitution.”

Mkparu disclosed that they would ensure that all leading political parties in the country see reasons to zone their presidential ticket to the South East in 2023.

Speaking on why Ohanaeze Ndigbo should drop their demand for restructuring and work for the realisation of an Igbo Presidency in 2023, the National Chairman of the United Peoples Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, argued that it was impossible for any Nigerian president, who is not from the South to bring such to fruition. He noted that with the constitution, which was set out in favour of the North and a lopsided federal structure, which is also to the North’s advantage, nothing meaningful could be made as far as restructuring is concerned.

As a way to consolidate what had been done so far, some leaders, including former Aviation Minister, Mbazulike Amaechi, Chief Iwuanyanwu and other notable other Igbo leaders have continued to dialogue on the best way to elicit the support of other zones on the project.

It was gathered that already the group has penciled down 10 names that should be considered for the position, adding that they are looking at one that is detribalised, but not up to the age of 70.

Nonetheless, there are arguments that so far, only the North West has produced the president among the zones in the North, and that since two zones in the South have done that, it should not revert to the South until another zone in the North has had a feel of it.

This is the new scheme upon which those clamouring that the power should be retained in the North are relying on. How they hope to convince the rest of the country to buy this remains to be seen. But as matters stand, the Southeast is out to pull all stops and get the Presidency for the first time in 63 years.

SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN NIGERIA