2007: Ekwueme, Onoh Preach Igbo Unity
From Chinedu Eze and Christopher Isiguzo in Abakaliki
Second Republic Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekueme, and former Governor of old Anambra State, Dr. Christian Onoh, have asked Igbo leaders to first unite and begin to speak with one voice before staking a claim to the presidency in 2007.
The two men spoke at the South-east zonal caucus meeting held at the Women Development Centre Abakaliki, Ebonyi State weekend.
The gathering included prominent politicians from the five South-east zones from all the registered parties.
Ekwueme in his speech, said it had become a periodic ritual for Igbo to meet and strategise, but expressed dismay that nothing comes out of such meetings at the end of the day.
"It is important for us to always meet and strategise but what is more important is for us to begin to speak with one voice, identify our problems and challenges and tackle them squarely," he said.
Also, Onoh who was former governor of old Anambra State said 2007 was still far and therefore advised governors of the South-east states to be united and show the light so that "the followers would know you are serious."
"How can you be talking about Igbo Presidency when you are not serious at all. When the time comes now, all of you would come out contesting for one position. You have to agree and give Igbo a credible presidential material," he said. He added that unless Igbo begin to adopt a more purposeful strategy the presidency would continue to elude them.
While accusing Igbo political office holders of always sabotaging "our efforts," Onoh said time has come for Igbo to forge a common front since. According to him "Yoruba are united under Afenifere and Hausa under Arewa."
Earlier in his welcome address, the Ebonyi State Governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, who hosted the meeting, emphasised the need for the zone to produce the next president of Nigeria. He said he was in complete disagreement with those who believed that such ambition was not possible. He added that the goal could be realised, and frowned at those who were half-hearted in pursuing the project.
"Apart from our population in the country, Igbos have an unrivalled track record of dynamism, performance and clear vision. Our accomplishment in various sectors are beacons of aspiration for any dispassionate auditor," the governor said.
Egwu noted that Igbo have contributed enormously towards the creation of the Nigerian commonwealth, and added that it was regrettable that Igbo leaders have tended to play into the hands of opponents of Igbo presidency project through unguarded comments about zoning, alleged lack of preparedness or non-availability of presidential materials among the Igbos.
He said: "I doubt that there is any other geo-political zone that can boast of so many quality presidential materials as the South-east zone. While I must concede everybody's entitlement to his opinion, I do not know what any Igbo person stands to gain by denigrating his people. I do not expect that there will be no disagreements or differences of opinion among us, but we do not have to make our disagreements subjects for public and media celebrations."
Egwu reminded Igbo people that their frequent bickering and discordant tunes seriously undercut their corporate respectability as a people.
"In case we do not know it, let me state that millions of ordinary Igbos are unhappy and unimpressed by our frequent inability to speak with one voice on strategic issues of public concern. It is not late to have a change of attitude," Egwu stated.
He urged the people from the South-east zone who hold positions at the national level to protect Igbo in their establishment, noting that it was not a secret that many Igbo professionals and public servants were made sacrificial lambs "even in establishments headed by their brothers and sisters in a bid to cut a detribalised and principled image."
In his own speech, the Senate President Adolphus Wabara said he agreed with Egwu that the South-east zone has personalities that are highly qualified to be president of the country but stressed that the zone has a lot of problems, which should be looked into with a bid to solving them in order to prepare adequately for the 2007 elections.
The Senate President emphasised that the Igbo must be united in order to realise the goal of having their son become the president of Nigeria in 2007.
"Talking about 2007 you will agree with me that the Igbos must be united. We must be united to fight a common course. We cannot continue to run helter skelter; we cannot continue to step on each other's toes; we must continue to fight for a common course from a common background," Wabara said.
Also, Governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, who is the Chairman of South-east Governors, urged Igbo to be determined and put their heads together to achieve the goal of producing the next president. He reminded them that other ethnic groups have their own peculiar problems and that the Igbo should not allow theirs to engulf and discourage them.
Part of the communique issued at the end of the conference included resolutions that Igbo people will remain one entity in Nigeria.
The communique also stated that the Igbo are the people who are the indigenous indigenes of Nigeria "because this is a race you cannot find anywhere else in the world other than Nigeria."
The communique disclosed that the meeting deliberated on issues like privatisation, revenue allocation, reconciliation and the setting up of a number of committees, which include committees on constitutional review, budget implementation and reconciliation.
Prominent political leaders who attended the meeting include Senators Uche Chukwumerije, Chris Adighije, Julius Ucha and Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Frank Ogbuewu, deputy governors of five South-east states and members of House of Representatives.
Also present were members of the State House of Assemblies of the five eastern states, party stalwarts, principal officers of state governments and other prominent Igbo sons and daughters.
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