- As Obi Promises To Turn Nigeria From Sharing To Production Economy
Southern Political leaders have been urged to resist the divisive tendency of the North and unite for a South East Presidency in 2023.
The leader of the Pan Yoruba group, Afenifere Pa Ayo Adebanjo sent out the strong message in Abuja on Monday while speaking at the Greater Nigeria Conference organized by South East leaders to sensitize and mobilize support for the region to get the Presidency of Nigeria in 2023.
Pa Adebanjo who was one of the guests at the well attended Conference said that for justice, equity and FairPlay, the next President of Nigeria should come from the South East.
He called on Presidential aspirants from the other two regions in the South to withdraw for the South East aspirants and warned them against falling into the trick of the North who wants to create division in the South so as to retain power.
“All the intrigue is how to keep the South divided. they have encouraged Tinubu, Osinbajo and Fayemi to run in the South West while in their real agenda is to retain power.”
The Afenifere leader expressed disappointment in the former President Goodluck Jonathan for even showing sign of interest and helping the North to divide the South who supported his reign.
The leader of the Middle Belt forum, Dr Bitrus Pogus who delivered the keynote address at the conference summed up his speech urging the South East to insist on their right and to refuse to listen to those who are saying that zoning does not matter because it does.
Seven Presidential aspirants from the two main political parties the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from the South East were introduced to the conference. They are Peter Obi, Anyim Pius Anyim, Sam Ohuabunwa and Dr Anakwenze from PDP and Governor Dave Umahi, Dr Chris Ngige and Senator Rochas Okorocha of the ruling APC.
The Presidential aspirants each addressed the conference for three minutes with Obi stealing the show with the crowd shouting this is our best.
Obi told the conference that Nigeria has met all the indexes of a failed state but his mission is to stop the slide and he intends to do it by returning the country from being a sharing economy to a production economy.
He said that Adebanjo made reference to their old days pointing out that then was when Nigeria was producing but now they are sharing what other nations are producing.
Obi remarked that his Presidency will create wealth, empower and develop the youths by creating jobs and making them productive.
Governor Umahi said that Nigeria needs an engineer like him to fix the country.
Minister of Health Dr Chris Ngige said that the country needs a visionary leader like him.
Earlier the Chairman of the Greater Nigeria group who organized the conference, the former Governor of Enugu state, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, in his welcome address said the conference became necessary because of the need to show case Presidential materials from the South East who are the best for the job because in them are visionaries, competence and integrity all put together.
The well attended conference held at the international conference centerAbuja was attended by political leaders drawn from across all regions of the country.