Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Former Senate President, Senator Adolphus Wabara, has submitted that only a President of Igbo extraction can fix Nigeria and correct the the numerous political blunders stagnating the country.
Senator Wabara, however, regretted that some forces which claim ownership of the country, have refused to give Ndigbo the opportunity of producing the country’s President.
He noted that the country might not witness any meaningful progress until the Igbo race which had shown capacity, competence and ingenuity on so many fronts, “is allowed to take a shot at the Presidency.”
He regretted that in view of the orchestrated political exclusion against the Igbo race, he might not be alive to witness Nigeria President of Igbo extraction.
“I may not be alive to see an Igbo man become President of Nigeria. It’s so painful and it gives me concern. I don’t know why Nigeria does not seem to have trust in us.
“The fact remains that an Igbo man can actually fix Nigeria if given the opportunity. But unfortunately, some forces seem not to be comfortable with this.”
Senator Wabara wondered why Nigeria would be reluctant to allow the Igbo race to produce President even when they had performed excellently in other fields of endeavour.
“The Igbo man has proved his mettle and thrives virtually in every field of human endeavour, yet, Nigeria does not believe in allowing him come to power. There is no doubt we will make Nigeria great if given the opportunity to be President.
“As long as the Igbo man is down politically, the entire country will be down! Nigeria has nothing to lose but all to gain if an Igbo man is allowed and supported to take a shot at the Presidency.”
Senator Wabara further argued that Igbo are the most de-tribalised ethnic group in Nigeria, “which has sacrificed, and is ready to sacrifice so much for the unity of Nigeria.”
“It’s only when an Igbo man becomes the President of this country that we can right all the wrongs stagnating Nigeria.
“An Igbo President will not behave like Buhari or Asiwaju. We are not tribalistic. An Igbo man will deny himself or his brother a position if that position is not justifiable.
“An Igbo man believes in ‘ live and let’s live.’ An Igbo man will be a President, and if you get to his office and speak Igbo, he will tell you: ‘my friend, Igbo is not the official language here!’ We can only speak our language at home. But go to official quarters today even the Central Bank, and you will be wondering if you are in Hausa or Yorubaland.”
The former Senate President who had during the controversial third term debate in 2007, advocated six-year single tenure for President, renewed his call for the proposal.
He argued that six-year single tenure would give every geo-political zone the opportunity of producing the country’s President once in every 36 years.
This, according to him, will help reduce unnecessary tension and eliminate the desperation of the incumbent for second tenure.
“I was one of the early advocates of six-year single tenure. If you go into the archives of the Senate, in my speech during the third term debate, it was one of the points I raised in my submission termed ‘My People, Oh My People.’
“I said it loud and clear. I even went further to propose a political mathematics that will make every geo-political zone produce the President within 36 years.”
The former Senate President said that rotational presidency needed to be guaranteed through constitutional provision, adding that every tribe needs a sense of belonging for the country to forge ahead.
“Let nobody be deceived, our diversity must be guaranteed constitutionally. From what we have seen so far, everybody comes and changes the goal post, particularly when it is the turn of the South-East. Otherwise, how can you explain that the zone that dominates virtually in other sectors has not been able to become the President through the ballot papers?
“Anytime it gets to our turn, some poli-mathematical engineering and changes will come up just because they want to deny the Igbo man his opportunity to fix Nigeria.”
Senator Wabara called on Nigeria leaders to stop pretending but sincerely tackle the various issues threatening the future of the country.
