Posted by From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka on
National Chairman and Vice Presidential candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) Rt. Hon. Edwin Umezeoke has alleged that there was a plot by some powers-that-be to ensure that the Igbo were stopped from returning to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.
National Chairman and Vice Presidential candidate of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) Rt. Hon. Edwin Umezeoke has alleged that there was a plot by some powers-that-be to ensure that the Igbo were stopped from returning to the mainstream of Nigerian politics.
Speaking at his country home when he received the Anambra State gubernatorial candidate of ANPP, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, Umezeoke said that the attempts to impose on the people of the South East zones candidates in the forthcoming elections was part of the plot.
The same powers, he said, have been fighting against the prolonged friendship of the Igbo with the north, which according to him has given Nigeria tremendous development.
He said: 'In Anambra State, a particular dangerous political seed is being sown, the worst part of it is that there is an extension of hostility to the Igbo. Every arrangement is being made, everything is being put in place, to make sure that Igbo never return to the mainstream of Nigerian politics, but we must be there because of our prolonged friendship with the north, we have worked with them at various stages of our nation-building.
He recalled that the friendship led to the pairing of Zik of Africa, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Tafawa Balewa, and Dr Alex Ekwueme and Alhaji Shehu Shagari all of which he said made great impact on the community.
'This time around those who are against us are trying to make sure that we are not back, they are warning against bringing Igbo back to the mainstream of Nigerian politics. But we must be there.
'We fought for the independence of this country more than any other ethnic group here, we cannot be pushed out, so this time around, people like me thought that we must have to approach our friends again and remind them of the past and that it is time to rescue the country from the mess it had been thrown into, but people, out of dislike, out of selfishness are using the instrument of power against us."
The second republic speaker of the House of Representatives, however, urged the people to gear up and fight the ugly trend by rejecting any imposition of candidates.
He expressed optimism that ANPP would form the government at the centre and in the majority of the states of the federation.