One of the presidential aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, has appealed to all other aspirants from the North and South West to step down and support an Igbo candidate.
The PDP aspirant, a medical doctor of over 35 years, leader of Nigerian Think Tank in Diaspora and leader of Igbo World Congress, on Friday in Lagos while briefing journalists, made the appeal saying that the Northern and South West candidates should step down for a South-East candidate in the spirit of fairness and equity.
Anakwenze said as for him, he is not desperate to get the presidential ticket but an Igbo candidate should be given the chance, because it is only in Nigeria that Champions and Independence protagonists like Dr. Nnamadi Azikwe were not allowed to rule the country.
Now that it is the turn of the Igbo people, it is imperative that all zones join hands to support us in order to create that sense of belonging.
South-Easterners have contributed greatly to the development of Nigeria in terms of infrastructure, intellect and business. It is time to give an Igbo person the chance to build Nigeria to the standard God wants it to be. God also created Nigeria to develop into a major power among nations and raise respect and dignity for all blacks on earth. One of the ways to achieve the feat is for an Igbo man to be president.
“As the 2023 presidential election draws near, there has been great concerns about equity, justice, equal opportunity and liberty for all Nigerians, irrespective of their place of birth. In Rotational Presidency, Southeast Nigeria has been marginalised and deprived for 33 years of Military rule and 24 years of Democracy rule. Nigeria can come out of the National insecurity if only the Igbo are given the chance in 2023 presidential election.
“As a practical demonstration of faith in a United Nigeria, no other group comes close to the Igbo. Igbo are the people who settle everywhere in Nigeria, build successful businesses and invest their money in physical development of the host communities, building houses and other structures that they know they cannot take with them if they have to leave. We wish other Nigerians would emulate them.
“Nigeria has a zoning and rotational culture for the Presidency and the agreement on rotational presidency was reached at the 1995 Constitutional Conference. But the rotation favours southern Nigeria at the end of General Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure in 2023 but some people are bent in scuttling that plan, because we are the zone that most deserves it.
“I humbly plead with the relevant stakeholders, party faithfuls, delegates to throw their weight behind a presidential aspirant from the Igbo in demonstration of justice, equity and fairness to the people of the South East zone.
“Right from the beginning of the current democratic dispensation, there was an understanding even across political parties, that power would rotate between the North and South of Nigeria. Nigeria is huge enough for everybody.
“An Igbo man has the intellectual property and capacity to hold everybody. We have all it takes to lift the country, all I am asking for is to give Southeast zone a chance to lead.
“The Yoruba, Hausa and South South have produced Presidents and it is now the turn of the South East region to provide good leadership for the good of all Nigerians so as to move the country to a positive direction. The South-East zone that has not tasted the Presidency should be moved to the front of the line to participate in the leadership process for greater Nigeria.
“In 23 years of this democratic dispensation, the South West has produced President Olusegun Obasanjo, who served for eight years, as well as a Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo who is currently serving out his eight-year tenure, while the South-South zone has produced President Goodluck Jonathan, who served for five years. The only zone is the South East which has not yet had a chance to produce a President of Nigeria and I believe that in the spirit of justice, equity, fairness and inclusiveness all of which are critical ingredients of democracy, the South-East should be given the chance and supported by all fair-minded and patriotic Nigerians, to produce Nigeria’s President in 2023 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Meanwhile, Mr. Oliver Osadebe said if people like Nwachukwu is given the opportunity to rule Nigeria, aspects of medical tourism would stop immediately as medical facilities in the country will be upgraded to an international level.
“He has done a lot for Nigeria, he usually brings medical doctors to Nigeria to treat people with different sickness. He has also done that abroad, I believe, if given the opportunity, he would perform well”.
