Igbo presidency: Anyim solicits support of S’East political stakeholders

From Larry Nwaiwu, Enugu

Former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim Pius, has appealed to South East political stakeholders to support his aspiration to become the next president of the Nigeria.

Senator Anyim, who met with the zonal and State executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as well as select political leaders and elders from across Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States, making up the five states of the South East Geo-political Zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in Enugu said that only unity and cooperation among the South East will achieve the agitation for Nigerian president of Igbo extraction

The well attended occasion was a special briefing session by Senator Anyim with the purpose of consulting the leaders of the geo political zone on his aspiration to contest the 2023 presidency on the platform of the PDP. In addition, it provided an opportunity for the Senator to acquaint the leaders with the progress and outcomes of his wide- ranging consultations with the leaders of the various sections of the federation, on both his aspiration and the general state of the nation.

The meeting took many far-reaching decisions on how to actualise the dream. Consequent upon that, the South East
political stakeholders expressed profound gratitude to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and his Abia State counterpart,
Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for their outstanding leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party in the South East Zone and their clear articulation of the interests of the zone at all platforms and organs of the party.

They resolved that the choice of who becomes President of Nigeria in 2023 has become a strategic imperative for the future of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, stating that the choice of who becomes the president in 2023 will depend on the vision, capacity, experience and disposition to make the difference, in the socio-political stability and economic development of the country. They expressed their profound gratitude for the overwhelming warmth and understanding which leaders across the nation showed to Senator Anyim and his aspiration throughout his wide-ranging and extensive consultations so far.

The attendees used the opportunity to appeal to the Peoples Democratic Party in the interest of equity, justice and harmonious national cohesion to zone their presidential ticket to the Southern zones of the country and the South East in particular.

It was their belief that the people of the South East geo political zone have earned the right to occupy the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023 on account of their eminent qualifications and overwhelming contributions to the development of all parts of the federation through the years.

They reiterated that the choice of a South East citizen as presidential candidate of the party in 2023 will guarantee to every Nigerian a sense of equity, justice and inclusion in the management of the affairs of the nation. “In our view, this is the best way of ensuring that we build a nation that leaves no one or group behind”.

They congratulated Senator Anyim for the patriotism of his decision to offer himself for national service by aspiring to contest the 2023 Presidential race. “We take due cognizance of his precious record of distinguished and unblemished service as President of the Senate and Secretary to the Government of the Federation. In these positions, he distinguished himself as a detribalised statesman, consensus builder and true nationalist.

“We, therefore, unanimously endorse his aspiration with all conviction and enthusiasm and eagerly commend him to the rest of the nation as a worthy leader who will pilot the affairs of the nation towards greater security, unity and prosperity for all citizens.

 "In furtherance of the foregoing, we hereby oblige Senator Anyim his request that we all join him to persuade and reassure every part of the country to do justice to the South East and thereby promote equity and justice as core values of our nation.
 "In assuring Senator Anyim of our support for his aspiration, we wish to also extend the same hand of support and solidarity to all qualified and deserving sons and daughters of our zone with similar aspiration and who reach out to us as Senator Anyim has done". 

They further appealled to all the people of the South East Zone to remain steadfast in the hope that “we can all join hands in solidarity with all other parts of the federation to build a prosperous nation founded on democracy, equity and inclusion to the benefit of this great nation”.

The meeting had in attendance, Senators Theodor Orji, Obinna Ogba, Enyinnaya Abaribe and other
political heavyweights from the South East Zone.