By Kenneth Onuoha
A former minister of state for Health, Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo has asked the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), to concede the 2023 Presidential slot to the South-east geopolitical zone.
Nwankwo made this known while speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state.
The former minister said the south east region had long ago supported candidates from other political regions, saying that is the turn of other zones to support the Igbos to actualise the project.
According to him: “I want to be realistic about a south easterner becoming the President of Nigeria. Forget about sentiments, its all about doing things the right way. We have two major political parties, that a candidate can reasonably stay and aspire to become the president; the APC and PDP.
“President of Nigeria should project themselves to the publics. Those who are interested should present themselves to Nigerians and show their capacity that they can do this job for Nigeria.
“Then the sentiment is the second aspect of it. The sentiment is that a south easterner has not been president of this country, at least from this democratic dispensation which started in 1999. And I will go further to say, that for those of us in PDP, where I belonged, we have very good reasons to ask PDP to zone the presidency to south east. We voted PDP all through these years. We supported candidates from other political zones.
“And now, we think it should be conceded to us and on that premise, I will advise those who have what it takes, the candidates should be prominent, then and get the support of his region which is south east. And the region in turn, should lobby other regions to see reasons why the president should go to south east now. And so, it is not by sentiment alone, we should let other regions know that we have competent hands that will do this job. I think the masses are getting tired of names, they wants actions.
He further called on the two major political parties in Nigeria; APC and PDP to concede 2023 Presidential slots to the south east region for the purpose of equity and fairness.
“That’s what I’m talking about. The primary person, is the one who wants to be president. And as far I am concerned, the second group is those in PDP in south east should come together and support the candidate because at this stage, there may be one candidate who will be aspiring to contest for President.
“South east should be able to tell other regions that if it is Mr A or B that is qualified, he will do well and Mr A or B is the person we trust that can make a good president of this country. He is not going to be president of the south east, he is going to be president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And that’s the point I’m making”, Nwankwo stated.