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Presidency : S. South insists on 2007
TOM MOSES,
Calabar
LEADERS of the South South geo-political zone yesterday
staked their claim to the nation’s presidency in 2007, saying it was the turn of
the zone to produce the country’s leader.
The zone’s aspiration was encapsulated in an address read by
chairman, steering committee of the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA) Chief
Raymond Dokpesi at the meeting of political leaders from the area at the Mirage
Hotel, Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
Most speakers at the well-attended event
followed suit.
The event was attended by virtually all
political heavyweights, including state governors, from the zone.
Chief Dokpesi described as injustice, the
denial of the South-South people access to what their fellow Nigerians from
other geo-political zones of the country had been enjoying.
Apart from producing the next president,
he said the people should also be allowed same measure of access, as others, to
the bountiful natural resources in their territory.
"Today must be seen against the backdrop
of a people’s long suffering and are now determined that our people must be
extricated from the shackles of poverty, retardation, exploitation and
degradation. We do not seek to destroy.
"At critical junctures in the historical
development of Nigeria, our people have always been on the side of a united
Nigeria. We shall continue to do so in a Nigeria that is grounded on justice,
for justice is the glue that has cemented unity and national greatness
throughout our history" Chief Dokpesi stated.
The SPPA, he hinted, will mobilize people
of the South-South towards the realisation of the dreams and objectives of the
Assembly and work in concert with relevant governmental organizations, all
political parties to ensure the emergence of South-South presidential
candidates.
Also, he said that the SPPA will work out
ways of arresting and managing youths restiveness in the zone and ensure full
participation, engagement and utilization of the youths in the various fields of
endeavour, among others.
The steering committee chairman said that
the SPPA was formed as a result of the merger of South-South People Conference
and the South-South Consultative Assembly.
Also speaking on the occasion Gov. Donald
Duke of Cross River State, urged South-South people to be united in all the
projects they are undertaking to achieve results, noting that most times the
people preferred their personal pursuits to those that will benefit the
collective interest.
He warned particularly against people of
the South-South settling for second fiddle offices instead of the number one
position and stressed the need for them to collaborate and select well
acceptable persons for the presidential contest.
Besides, he charged the South-South people
to speak with one voice concerning the resource control matter, noting the
dangers in speaking in discordant tunes just as he canvassed that all
South-South zonal meetings and conferences should be held in Calabar, because of
its status as the pioneer capital territory of Nigeria.
Also speaking, Gov. Peter Odili of Rivers
State corroborated Gov. Duke’s position, adding that all the South-South
governors have resolved to combat the 19 northern and three South-West governors
on the suit against the offshore/on-shore oil abrogation law to a logical
conclusion.
The roll call of personalities at the
meeting include Govs Odili, Rivers, Duke, Cross River, Justice Karibi Whyte,
Chief Sunny Odogwu, Ambassador Matthew Mbu, Chief Donald Etiebet, Professor Sam
Oyovbare, Senator Felix Ibru, Chief A.K. Amstrong and first military governor of
Rivers State Chief Alfred Diete-Spiff, Senator Melford Okilo, a one-time
governor of Rivers State and former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas.
Others are the first military governor of
defunct Mid-Western State, Maj. Gen. David Ejoor (rtd), Minister of Transport,
Dr. Precious Abiye Sekibo, former Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Mike
Akhigbe, one-time Commander, Presidential Fleet Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga,
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mike Opara, frontline
leader, Chief (Dr.) Margaret Ekpo, first female Senator, Senator Franca Afebua,
one-time military governor of Cross River State Group Captain Gregory Agboneni,
deputy governor of Edo State, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and Delta States and others too
numerous to mention.
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