|
2007: Northern presidency
not feasible � Nas
� The problems with Igbo
presidency � APGA
By Chuks Ehirim (Abuja) and
Augustine Madu-West
(Kano)
Former Special Duties Minister
Wada Nas has again voiced his opposition to the desire of the North to
take back political power in 2007. Rather, he has rooted for those calling
for an Igbo President.
But National Chairman of All
Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Chekwas Okorie has expressed concern
over the possibility of an Igbo taking the reigns of power at the next
election, listing various constraints to such a
realisation.
Nas told a crowded press
conference in Kano at the weekend that a President of Northern extraction
in three years� time is not feasible because the North has had more than
its fair share of the leadership of the country.
His words: �The Hausa/Fulani
have ruled the country well enough not to exhibit the kind of anxiety that
has characterised their interest in the 2007 polls. It is injustice to
think that the leadership of this country is the birth right of any
particular ethnic group or region�.
Okorie, who spoke of the
obstacles is, however, optimistic that other factors are emerging which
may dismantle these constraints as the race for 2007 gets hotter. These, according to him, include
the emergence of at least four formidable Presidential candidates from the
North, the fact that Ndigbo are being approached by other political blocs
and the possibility of having a comprehensive electoral reform which would
be in Igbo interest.
In his view, the termination
of the second term tenure of most of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
governors in the South East promises to reduce to a manageable proportion,
the endemic cases of political sabotage and mischief which was the case in
2003.
Part of the hope, he added, is
the fact that APGA, regarded by the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) as one of the four functional political parties, has
zoned its Presidential ticket to the South East, which would boost the
chances of the Igbo to produce the next President.
In his own argument, Nas said:
�The Yoruba have ruled Nigeria at different times. The Hausa/Fulani have
also ruled, if we have to be fair to ourselves, it is the turn of the Igbo
to take the slot in 2007. It is their chance to pick the Presidential slot
in 2007; denying them that would amount to gross injustice. There will be
no fairness and equity in that�.
Nas advised the Igbo to close
ranks so as to achieve this goal, stressing: �You cannot go to war and
expect victory with a fragmented force. You have to be strong, united and
committed to this Igbo Presidential project if you desire the support of
other regions or ethnic groups�.
He used the occasion to
reiterate his belief that President Olusegun Obasanjo is determined to
remain in office beyond 2007, adding that the President�s denial is
misleading.
Said Nas: �A secret committee
has been set up to prepare grounds for his continuity in office beyond
2007. At the appropriate time, I will come out with a list of the members
of this secrete committee.
| 
