Greetings my Southwest and South-South brothers!
On 25th April 2022, I stood at the International Conference Center, Abuja, during the Great Nigeria Conference powered by Nzuko Umunna and led by Sen. Chris Anyanwu and Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, under the leadership of Prof. Amb. George Obiozor.
The event was evidently organized for fairness, justice and equity to prevail in Nigeria in 2023 presidential election. In the position papers delivered by Pa Ayo Adebanjo the leader of Afenifere and Pa Edwin Clark the leader of PANDEF, I saw a new Nigeria with peace and tranquillity, if we implement the counsel of these two great patriotic Nigerians
These two democratic patriarchs of Nigeria narrated the chronicles cum litanies of political developments in Nigeria starting from pre-colonial Masters to Nigeria’s Independent. These two octogenarian political elements, at this moment, demonstrated their patriotism in seeking an actual solution for Nigeria’s socio-political and economic survival, therefore they opted that the solution lies in Nigeria’s president of Southeast extraction in 2023.
To my Southern Nigeria brothers, Pa Ayo and Pa Clark have laid a path for us; it’s a pathway of fairness, justice and equity. They touched a silent point in the history of Nigeria like what I heard from Dr. Sam Obaji( a Young Biafran Major 1967-70) during his interview on the Nigeria Biafra Civil War after 50 years. Pa Ayo Adebanjo made the same remark about Gen. Yakubu Gowon by insisting that Nigeria should separate during his broadcast in 1966 thus “the basis of Nigeria Unity doesn’t exist” while Gen. Chukwuemeka Odemegwu Ojukwu insisted on the unity of Nigeria.
Subsequently, after Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi was gruesomely murdered, Gen. Ojukwu started singing the songs of separation while Gen. Yakubu Gowon turned and composed the songs of “One Nigeria”. What an irony of political development!
My Southwest and South-South brothers should know that Nigeria has not existed on the tripod of Fairness, Justice and Equity. There’s a lesson to learn from Gen. Ojukwu and Gen. Gowon, but only those with wisdom will learn, while those with emotions and sentiments will continue to swim in ignorance and lies.
Pa Ayo Adebanjo explained that if the presidency is by merit, then only the Southeast should rule till eternity, but he, however, believes in a rotational presidency which he categorically stated that it’s the turn of Southeast extraction to produce the next president of Nigeria. My dear South-West and South-South should keep this statement in the archive because it will always stand as a historical testimony.
The annulment of June 12 election brought a political compensation to Southwest in 1999. The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that was the brain child of Southeastern politicians through G-34 led by Dr. Alex Ekwueme, and All People’s Party (APP) led by Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu who stepped aside to support Pa Olu Falea that ran the presidential election with joint ticket of APP and AD.
I expect Chief Olu Falea to wake up now, lead a Yoruba delegation and meet Bola Tinubu and Prof. Yemi Osibanjo to tell them to reciprocate what Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu in APC did to him and the entire Southwest with APP in 1999. Pa Olu Falea should speak now like Pa Ayo Adebanjo
In 1994/95 National Constitutional Conference, Ndigbo in Southeast believe that those who produce honey should have honey to enjoy their bread, and through the massive support of the Southeast, South-South started enjoying oil derivation dividends.
In 2010/2015, Southeast staked their political destiny on Goodluck Jonathan and repeat it in 2015, and Southeast was nicknamed ” 5%” and “Dot”. Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Edwin Clark are truly symbols of political conscience in the Southwest and South-South; this is the path they have chosen for Southwest and South-South people, and only those with human conscience are qualified to walk on this path.
We can’t have people whose consciences on fairness, justice and equity are dead and still they are demanding for our votes to be president. How can someone whose Conscience is dead on fairness, justice and equity become your president?
My great Southern Nigerians what do you expect from a president who doesn’t respect fairness justice and equity? Can someone devoid of fairness, justice and equity give Nigerians fairness, justice and equity in administration?
The Characters of Gov. Nyemso Wike, Chibuike Amaechi, Sen. Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and Co from Southwest and South-South are what every Southwestern and South-Southern should abhor, because they are planting a generational seed of discord.
I passionately appeal to Southwest and South-South people to awaken their consciences and advise Wike, Amaechi, Tinubu, Osibanjo and Co, reminding them of what their actions could cause both present and future generations of Southern Nigerians.
Wike and Amaechi can’t be pulling their strength to deputize someone from the North just to shortchange Southeast presidential aspirants. If the Southwest and South-South bury Fairness, send Justice on exile and imprison Equity, then they are obviously calling for a state of lawlessness and anarchy like the Thomas Hobbes theory of a society devoid of Justices.
Furthermore, in the light of the foregoing, our generation is highly disappointed in Goodluck Jonathan over his comment about considering to contest for presidency. The Southeast people expected Goodluck Jonathan to be straight forward to stand for a Zone who stood for him in 2011 and 2015 even when Gov. Chibuike Amaechi from the same region betrayed him. Goodluck Jonathan should stand for Justice and Equity and lead the presidential campaign of Southeast Extraction in 2023.
To this end, I expect and appeal the Southwest and South-South to intensify the Nigeria president of Southeast extraction campaign in their Zones, otherwise those singing for Unity of Nigeria without Fairness, Justice and Equity are undergoing a white elephant project.
Your Brother in a fair, just and equitable Nigeria
Igboayaka O Igboayaka,
National President Ohanaeze Youth Council
27th, April 2022
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