Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The South East Enlightenment Group, Igbo Leadership Development Foundation and Concerned Stakeholders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have urged President Bola Tinubu to allow the South East geopolitical zone to produce Nigeria’s president in 2027.
The groups made the call at a special joint press conference held on Monday in Enugu.
Speaking to newsmen, the National President of the South East Enlightenment Group (SEEG), Dr. Godwin Udibe, also called on the ADC and other political parties to field candidates of South East extraction as their presidential candidates in the 2027 election.
The groups argued that President Tinubu had taken half of the slot meant for the South’s eight-year tenure, adding that, for equity, fair play and justice, the remaining four years should go to the South East.
“Consistent with our advocacy over the years for equity and justice, and rotation of presidential power in particular, we deem it necessary to once again reiterate our stand for the emergence of a Nigerian president of South East extraction,” the groups said.
They lamented that the South East appeared to be steadily sidelined in the scheme of power play in Nigeria, with many people from the zone feeling alienated.
“Under the present Fourth Republic, the South West has taken the turn of the Southern bloc thrice, the South South once, and the South East none.
“The South East has suffered the highest injustice as far as equity and fairness in the rotation of presidential power are concerned.
“Against the foregoing background, we are here today to declare the common position of the South East with regard to the Nigerian presidency.
“The common goal, therefore, is to galvanise the South East and other partners across the various regions of the country to support the South East to produce the President of Nigeria in 2027,” the groups said.
They appealed to all political parties to zone their presidential tickets to the South East, “in what would be a repeat of the zoning arrangement in 1998 when all the then three political parties zoned their presidential tickets to the South West.”
“We are not unmindful of the poaching game by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which, as of today, has 31 governors in its fold.
“We note that the defections do not translate into improved well-being of South East citizens; neither can the defections guarantee electoral success for the defectors.
“These political developments have further strengthened our resolve to push the South East collective interest.
“We therefore express our desire for the South East to have the exclusivity to produce the President of Nigeria in 2027, and reiterate our request to political parties to zone their presidential tickets to the South East.
“Furthermore, the South East will identify with political parties that field their presidential candidates from the zone,” the groups said.
They also promised to work against governors from the South East who oppose the South East presidency project.
“We will mobilise the South East to vote them out.
“For equity’s sake, we call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to run for a second term in office in 2027 but to support a South Easterner to clinch the presidency for a single term to complete eight years of Southern presidency, after which power should return to the North,” the groups said.
Lending his voice to the call, the Leader of Njiko Igbo, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha, said the Igbo organisation was solidly in support of the South East presidency project and would work with SEEG and others for its realisation.
“We are solidly in support of this project and will work together to achieve the aim of producing a president of South East extraction in 2027,” he said.
