Posted by By MUYIWA ODU on
South-South and South-East Assembly, a coalition of citizens from the two geographical zones have resolved that either of the two areas should produce the country's next President come 2007.
South-South and South-East Assembly, a coalition of citizens from the two geographical zones have resolved that either of the two areas should produce the country's next President come 2007.
According to them, such an outcome would be seen as only fair, just and equitable considering the fact that people from the two zones had been totally sidelined with regard to the highest executive and political office in the land.
Rising from their recent extra-ordinary session held at their corporate headquarters in Calabar, Cross-Rivers State, noted that its on records that no executive president or head of state military and civilian have emerged from their areas since the nation's independence.
They contended that the late Nationalist, Dr Nnamdi Azikwe only served as a ceremonial head of state under a northerner in the First Republic while the late Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi served for only seven months.
Comparing the rulership in various geopolitical zones in the country, the members of the coalition noted that the north had served for a total of 34 years four month while the South-West would have served for a total of 13 years six months by May 29, 2007.
They posited that it is in the over riding national interest and in harmony with natural justice that a candidate of the zones must emerge president and commander-in-chief of Nigeria come 2007.
'We are committed and determined to pursue and realise this national objective come what may. Anything less would be detrimental to the interest of this potentially great country," the members of the assembly said.
The chairman, central governing council of the assembly, Chief Edward Madu said that the organisation acknowledges, recognises and respects the inalienable rights and legitimate aspirations of politicians to desire for offices at all levels of government.
He, however, advised all politicians and aspirations from the South-South and South-East to ensure that their activities and aspirations are in strict harmony with larger objectives and collective interests of their political block, adding that 'we warn that any deviance would be viewed and treated as betrayal of our people."
Chief Madu emphasised that the two zones have come together to forge a socio-political union and common front that would speak with one voice in all matters that concern the people in the context of a Federal Nigeria, saying that 'we believe that in a true democratic environment, the real power belongs to the people."
'We must conceed that the political naivety of our people helped the divide-and-rule policy of the forces outside our two zones to sustain the state of cold war between the zones for so long.
We are happy to announce that we have learnt our lessons," he said.
He added: 'This assembly is a child of necessity. The need is to emancipate and reposition our two zones to secure a stronger bargaining position and power in the nation's scheme of things with special focus on the unfolding political scenario leading up to the 2007 general elections."
He called on the governments of the 11 states in the two zones as well as the political leaders and other elites to support the assembly 'so that we can all realise and actualise the noble vision and mission which God, in His infinite love and wisdom, has thrust upon our generation as the ultimate challenge of our times."