The president of Ohanaeze, Badagry Local Government Area in Lagos , Chief Chimaroke Nnadi has carpeted the northern governors’ call to have the 2007 presidency zoned to their area, describing their intention as selfish and inimical to the survival of Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
Nnadi who made this known in an interview with Vanguard asserted that it was the turn of the south east to produce the next president of the country. According to him, “the northern governors should for once appreciate the Igbos in the political arrangement and scheme of things in Nigeria.”
He urged the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its National Working Committee members to apply wisdom and maturity in handling the zoning of the 2007 presidential candidacy, if it will really remain a viable democratic party in 2007.
. He further expressed dissatisfaction with the recent killings of innocent people and destruction of properties in the recent crisis in Plateau and Kano States. He condemned particularly the burning of churches and the palace of Eze Ndi Igbo in Kano State, describing the act as unprogressive.
However, the Ohanaeze chieftain commended the action of the South-Eastern governors on their role in ensuring that Igbos at home did not revenge the killing of their kinsmen and destruction of properties in the north. He extolled the Prof. Joe Irukwu’s leadership of Ohanaeze, noting that since Irukwu took over as the National President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the apex Igbo socio-political and cultural body, the organisation with its new executives has become vibrant and is making remarkable impact.
He applauded the collective efforts of the Igbos in their timely intervention in aborting the moves to impeach the Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, condemning “ the attitude of some prominent Igbo leaders who threw dignity and integrity to the winds in order to secure contracts in Abuja.” He reminded such leaders of the importance of proper representation of their people. This, he said, will bring succour and relief to those they represent.
Nnadi tasked the various leadership of Ohanaeze at both national and local levels to remain focused, especially now the South-East wants to produce the president for 2007 general elections. “ It is only through absolute commitment to this cause that the president will emerge from the geographical zone”, he added.
