ENUGU—GOVERNORS of the South East Zone have for the second timedeclined the outright endorsement of a presidential candidate for the2011 election insisting that they would support only a candidate withthe best programme that will address the imbalance in the country andmarginalization of the zone.
The governors, however, said they would declare their position only when President Jonathan becomes a candidate even as the South EastForum, SEF, yesterday declared that it was firmly committed to zoningand rotation of power principle and therefore would work for theactualisation of a Northern President in the next year’s elections.
The South East governors, at the end of their meeting, however,expressed happiness with the performances of President GoodluckJonathan, especially the way he had piloted the affair of the nationsince he came on board.
Chairman of the Forum of South East Governors and Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi who read their resolution after a meetingin Enugu Sunday night, also said the governors noted with concern theongoing strike by the academic and non-academic staff of state-owneduniversities in the South East zone and resolved to negotiate theaggrieved workers even as they called for immediate reopening of theuniversities.
Obi said that the governors discussed the unfolding political scenario in the country and after assessing the political developments,“we agreed to restate our earlier resolve to stand and work togetherirrespective of party affiliations, and that none of us, the Governors,will vie for the post of President or Vice President of the nation inthe upcoming elections in 2011.”
“We will rather give support for Presidency, a candidate with the best programme that will address the imbalance in the country andmarginalisation of the South East Zone. We are not against anybody, butwhat we are saying is that we will only make our support known when allthe aspirants have declared. We are working for the interest of theregion and not for our personal interests.”
However, Secretary General of South East Forum, Chief Chyna Iwuanyanwu who made the position of the forum known, weekend, in Abuja,said the North would produce the next president in 2011 forsafeguarding of democracy, peace, unity and national stability.
Besides, former Minister of Education, Prof. (Mrs.) Chinwe Nora Obaji, who attended the Thursday meeting of South South and South Eastheld at the residence of a former Federal Commission of Information,Chief Edwin Clark, has raised the alarm that her life has been underthreat following the position she took during the meeting.
Chief Iwuanyanwu said it was misleading, for anyone to say that the zone has endorsed President Goodluck Jonathan for the 2011 presidency.
He said: “We want to assure the generality of Ndigbo that the South East Forum is firmly committed to the communique it issued with theNorthern Political Leaders Forum on Tuesday, August 10, 2010 to wit;the two groups believe in zoning and rotation of power principle as thebest safeguard for our democracy, peace, unity and national stability;that the two groups will work staunchly for the realisation of aNorthern President in 2011; and the both groups will also workassiduously for the realisation of an Igbo President in 2015.
However, former Minister of Education, Professor Chinwe Obaji who attended the meeting said her life is under threat because of “my standon the fact that the South East deserves a shot at the presidency come2015”.
Prof. Obaji’s statement entitled, “South South/South East meeting-a refutal” said, “the meeting of South- South and South- Eastrepresentatives held on Thursday 19 August 2010 at the residence of DrEdwin Clark was not reported accurately in the media.
“The meeting was summoned to look into ways of improving relations between the South-South and South-East geo-political zones. I and somesouth east delegates raised issues at the meeting that we consideredimpediments to fostering good and smooth relationship between the twozones and tried to proffer solutions. Some of those issues are quitesensitive and are sore spots to the average South-Easterner.
“It was unfortunate that some positions we took did not go down well with notable leaders from the South-South who telephoned me the nextday, threatening me.
“I believe sincerely that if there should be remarkable improvement in our relationship, the genuine concerns of the two zones must beaddressed in an open and sincere manner for the wider interest ofNigeria.
“The relationship between the two zones dates back before our time and by acts of providence, we have found ourselves as neighbors,in-laws, cousin’s even brothers and sisters etc and we should from timeto time dialogue on frosty issues that tend to divide us and makeattempts to find solutions to these issues. Any discussion which doesnot address the genuine concerns and aspirations of the South-East zonemay only be one-sided and could be short lived.
“It will be most unfair to me for anyone to invite me to a meeting of this nature and expect me not to represent the interest of the southeast zone as I know them, such an act could tantamount to a silentbetrayal of my people.
“Neither threats nor undue coercion will change my stand on the fact that the South-East deserves a shot at the presidency come 2015.
She concluded, “this position is just, equitable, fair and irrevocable and the kind of threat I have received is totally illmotivated and counter-productive.”
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