Leaders of the South East region on Friday prevailed on President Muhammadu Buhari to support the South East to produce the next president of the country.
Presenting the request to the president, Ebonyi State governor, and chairman South East Governor’s Forum, David Umahi, called for fairness and equity in the power rotation arrangement in the country.
“On the request for the presidency of the South East, I’m an aspirant and would not be able to say much about that.
“But let me say something to Nigerians; if the basis for asking for the presidency to be rotated from the North to the South is on the basis of equity, fairness and justice, and our brothers from South South and South West are putting more candidates than South East, then the question is where is the fairness?”
“Where is the morality, where is the equity? But we must honestly thank the leaders of the Middle Belt and Chief Adebanjo of South West and Chief Edwin Clark, and other leaders of these two zones who have been advocating for power rotation from North to south East, South South and South West.
“South East is political ally to the North until 1999 and when the entire North lined up behind Ekwueme for the presidency, but because of June 12, because of political dialogue we allowed and voted for Obasanjo in South West. The North gave ticket to Dr Ogbonnaya Onu and because of June 12 it was handed over to Olu Falaye”.
According to Umahi, the South East zone has made sacrifices for the entire Nigeria for the peace and stability of the country, adding that when it is the turn of the South East, “rightly or wrongly we should be considered for the peace and justice and stability of Nigeria.”
Speaking further the Ebonyi governor said, “And let me say that all those angling for one position or the other can only have it if there is Nigeria and Mr. President has been fighting for the unity and stability of Nigeria.
“That is why irrespective of political lineage you have treated us equally and so I want the elite to put patriotism of the nation ahead of every one of our aspirations.”
Umahi stated that if equity, Justice and fairness must be the yardstick, the South East will need support, but if not it will be difficult for the South East to be shortchanged and continue to vote for those who will not vote for us.”
