From FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja
Sunday, March 20, 2011
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Photo: Sun News Publishing
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Two weeks to the general election, Igbo political leaders have declared that they were not against the ambition of President Goodluck Jonathan even as they claimed that South-East geo-political zone was in dilemma in the unfolding power dynamics in the country.
Rising from a consultative stakeholders meeting in Abuja, the Igbo Political Leaders Forum said the prevailing political situation had made it imperative for the leaders to re-strategize to make the zone relevant in the scheme of things.
Indeed, the forum while reviewing the position of the Igbo in the present political calculation, regretted what it called systematic political stripping of the South-East to appease other sections of Nigeria under the present administration.
“It is more than a coincidence that while Ogbulafor was criminalized and sacrificed for standing firm on the zoning principles of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo suffered even worse humiliation for being at the forefront of the anti zoning advocacy”, the Forum declared in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Chyna Iwuanyanwu.
Consequently, the Igbo leaders have planned an all-inclusive summit of the political leaders from the zone and civil society organizations to articulate a charter of demands from the nation under the present political dispensation.
According to Iwuanyanwu, the Igbo leaders have monitored with serious concern the unfolding political landscape since after the presidential primaries and have decided that the time had come to review the state of the nation especially as it concerns the South-East.
Recalling the last August 10, Imo Concorde hotel lock out of its leaders, the Forum explained that it had maintained a dignified and non-confrontational posturing; and “refused to be dragged into any conflicts or be defocused by the antics of some misguided selfish self-seekers who were bent on compromising and betraying the genuine aspirations of Ndigbo in pursuit of their personal agenda.”
The Igbo leaders expressed their commitment to the spirit and letters of their partnership agreement with the Northern Political Leaders Forum, the South-South Unity Forum and the Afenifere Renewal Group, in advocating for the sustenance of zoning and rotation as the recipe for political orderliness, peace, stability, justice, fairness, equity and unlimited access to power for all sections of the country particularly those who have suffered injustice since 50 years of independence.
Restating their belief in the zoning and power rotation, Iwuanyanwu in the statement said “It is now clear that any attempt to kill zoning and rotation will amount to the resurgence of religion and tribe in Nigerian politics.
He noted that the Forum led by Chief Simon Okeke, stood firmly in support of President Goodluck Jonathan when the South-East governors and many of those singing his praise today stood against his confirmation as substantive president.
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