To u,16 years gone by was enough to waste on that familiar path.
Like all other zones in Nigeria, the South East zone WILL HAVE THOSE IN OPPOSITION AND THOSE IN alliance with the ruling party at the federal level.
We insist that it calls integrity into question when leaders in a political party cannot do a clean outing in their name, but hope to beguile a whole zone that in time past produced such brains like Nnamdi Azikiwe-the Great Zik of Africa, around whose philosophy APC of today is built), Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam, Dr Michael Okpara, Dr Christopher Okigbo, Dr Pius Okigbo, Arc Alex Ekwueme, Dr Chuba Okadigbo and Chief Nnia Nwodo.
The zone that produced Mazi Mbonu Ojike, Chief Ebitu Ukiwe, Ndubisi Kanu, Ndubisi Kaja, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige , Gov Rochas Okorocha, Mokwugwo Okoye, Osita Agwuna,Sylvester Ugoh, Cyprain Ekwensi, Chikwuemeka Ike, Chimamanda Adichie, Chidinma Ibegbu, Chukwuemeka Ezeife , Ogbonnaya Onu and Chinua Achebe cannot be taken for a ride.
The zone from which Nwafo Orizu, who did not emerge in any principal position in the Senate when 51 senators were absent, the zone that produced Chief Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, who did not forge National Assembly rules to emerge as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, but being in a minority party emerged from an alliance with the leading party, will not be blackmailed into blanket opposition politics.
The zone that produced Sam Onunaka Mbakwe, who did not bypass the constitution in 2010 Anambra State to become governor, will not have its faith decided by partisan interests, particularly from those ex-governors who shortchange their incumbents to attend meetings of sovereigns.
The zone of Comrade Uche Chukwumerije and Justice Chukwudifu Oputa will not tolerate spiteful impersonation of partisan interests claiming statehood by foul means, as it clearly belongs to the dark era which Oputa Panel would have gone emotional about.
The zone that produced Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu will not accept to enter any general house belonging to all zones from the backyard, when the front gate is opening and pawning.
Once again we denounce the PDP leaders who gathered in Enugu for speaking in the name of the South East for that is neither here nor there.
PDP is PDP and South East is South East with variegated political affiliation.
Consequently, the claim of the group amid discussions on private Vice Presidential political ambitions, protection of illicit political positions, return of sleaze funds collected for appropriation of South East resources, zoning and unzoning, South East badly crave for to join other zones that have launched themselves onto free and fair election level, cannot come out ad claim to speak for the South East on the budget.
They will speak for the PDP, while a constituent meeting of the South East zone will speak for the South East in non-partisan language. Gladly only SOME PDP leaders attended the meeting, excluding Alex Ekwueme, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and a host of others.
Specifically APC rejects the suggestion in the PDP Caucus meeting – the second in one week- which invites the South East to oppose the federal budget, oppose the inclusion of the Card Reader in the amended Electoral Act, and asks governors of already impoverished states in the South East to provide a percentage of public funds to protect certain illegitimate positions in the National Assembly.
Those who are as proud of their party as we are of APC should gather in the name of their party and make statements in the name of their party, and allow a proper meeting of the South East decide and make statements on issues on common interest.
The pain of this spiteful impersonation is heightened by the painful realization that the contract for the second Niger Bridge was never awarded at all in the last federal administration, while that of the dredging of the Lower Niger was truncated under the passive watch of the same gatherers.
The good people of South East Nigeria are advised in their interest never to accept the partisan statements imbued with sentiments ,coming from the PDP an otherwise dying party as the position of the South East on any issue in which the entire leaders across political parties and non-partisans of the zone have not reviewed collectively. Instead they should discountenance the rebellious steps and key into a new horizon for the South East.
For: ALLL PROGRESSIVES CONGRESS (APC), ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER
Okelo Madukaife
State Publicity Secretary
