Posted by By Emma Amaize & Simon Ebegbulem on
THE South-South geo-political zone, weekend, underscored its inclination to produce the next President in 2007 with the surfacing of about 19 presidential aspirants from three of the six states of the zone.
WARRI - THE South-South geo-political zone, weekend, underscored its inclination to produce the next President in 2007 with the surfacing of about 19 presidential aspirants from three of the six states of the zone. Edo, Delta and Cross River States complied with the October 10 deadline issued by the South-South Peoples Assembly (SSPA), the umbrella body of the zone, to the states chapters to put forward the names of their aspirants.
Among the aspirants are politicians and leaders in the zone including two governors, two former military and civilian governors, former ministers and business gurus. Chief James Ibori of Delta State and Mr. Donald Duke of Cross River State are the incumbent governors whose names were confirmed by Vanguard. Though Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State was said to be the third in the pack of South-South governors that have indicated interest, Vanguard could not confirm the information, yesterday. Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo was not named by his state in the list made available to Vanguard while Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom Sates did not submit their lists before the deadline.
Former Vice President, Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe (GCON); two-time governor of the defunct Bendel State, Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia (OFR); former civilian governor of Edo State, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; presidential candidate of the Justice Party (JP) in the 2003 presidential elections, the Reverend Kris Okotie; Third Republic Senate President, Chief Joseph Wayas; ex-Federal Commissioner for Information, Chief Edwin Clark; former Foreign Affairs Minister and veteran diplomat, Chief Matthew Mbu; former Finance Minister, Chief Anthony Ani; and former presidential aspirant, Chief Abel Ubeku are also among the front runners.
It was reliably gathered that three state chapters of the SSPA have forwarded the names of the presidential aspirants to the Presidential Screening Committee of the Assembly, headed by Chief Mbu who incidentally was nominated by his Cross River State chapter.
The Edo SSPA in a letter entitled: 'Nomination of presidential aspirants," addressed to the Presidential Screening Committee and signed by its chairman, Brigadier General Idada Ikponmwen (rtd), said: 'We hereby forward herewith, with the consent of the nominees, the names of the three of our prominent indigenes of Edo State as our aspirants for the 2007 presidential elections: (1) Vice Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe; GCON; (2) Brig Gen (Dr) S.O. Ogbemudia, OFR; (3) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.
'Please endeavour to keep this chapter abreast of the measures for the screening/selection that would lead to the emergence of the zonal candidates for the information of the aspirants, our members and the public at large," he said.
Brig General Ikponmwen told Vanguard when contacted yesterday that the state went through the due process in selecting the three aspirants and 'the trio assured during our interaction with them that they will do the country proud if they emerged presidential flag bearer of the zone."
Cross River State chairman of the SSPA, Dr. Ambrose Akpanika, who spoke to Vanguard on phone said 'we have sent our list to the screening committee." He gave the names of the aspirants as Governor Duke; Chief Mbu; Chief Ani and Dr. Wayas. Asked why Chief Mbu who is the chairman of the Presidential Screening Committee of the SSPA was nominated by the state, he said the duty of the search committee in the state was to pick credible flag-bearers, while the committee at the national level would contact the aspirants and conscript even those who did not indicate interest if they are found worthy in its estimation.
His words: 'We have asked the screening committee to contact them. We only provided them with the names of our presidential aspirants. There are other processes involved, the committee would reach them."
Delta State chairman of the SSPA, Dr. Brown K. Adasen, said a total of 11 presidential aspirants were nominated with Chief Ibori, Chief Ubeku, Pastor Okotie; former military governor of Niger State, Brigadier General Cletus Emein (rtd); Olorogun Moses Taiga; and Chief Clark. 'I am happy very happy that we picked aspirants that have the requisite qualifications to rule this country and we hope that one of them would eventually be voted as the presidential candidate of the zone for the 2007 elections," he said.
Secretary of SSPA's Presidential Screening Committee, Prof Benedict Ijomah declined to release the names of the aspirants submitted to the committee when Vanguard contacted him, yesterday. He said that the names would be made public at the appropriate time.
Chief Odigie-Oyegun who spoke to Vanguard from Lagos yesterday said it was true that he was in the race, adding: 'I was asked to indicate interest and I have done so". On his part, Brigadier-General Emein said: 'I wish everybody who has been nominated good luck."
Efforts to get comments from Admiral Akhigbe, Chief Clark, Chief Wayas and Chief Mbu, yesterday were not successful but an SSPA source said: 'We want to see how the chairman of the screening committee, Chief Mbu, would be a judge in his own case."