. As Primate Ayodele urges Atiku, Tinubu, others to step down South East aspirants
The chairman Abia state chapter of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA),Rev Augustine Ehiemere has called on Ndigbo in the five Southeastern states of Nigeria to join the party saying it is an Igbo party.
Ehiemere who, made the call at the party state secretariat in Umuahia during the visit of Chief Alex Ifeanyi Ikwuechegh to declare his intention to run for the position of House of Representatives of Aba North and South said that, “until the five Eastern states join APGA, Igbos will continue to remain political orphans in Nigeria”
He assured that APGA as a party stands for fairness, justice, transparency and honesty promising that the party will give all aspirants a level playing ground.
Earlier in his speech, Chief Alex Ifeanyi Ikwuechegh informed the chairman and the State Working Committee of Abia APGA of his intention to run for the position of House of Representatives of Aba North and South Federal Constituency in 2023 National Assembly election, promising to bring victory to the party if elected during the primary election.
Chief Ikwuechegh described APGA as an Igbo party that does things in the right way and capable of conducting fair and transparent primaries adding that he has what it takes to bring victory for the party in general elections.
He pointed out that governance is no longer business as usual noting that being in governance required someone that is intellectually sound and capable of generating wealth, have passion for the people and making the welfare of the people topmost priority.
Speaking further, he assured the party of his readiness to work for the party, to be loyal as well as follows the manifesto and the vision of the party.
He said, “I have come here to familiarize, I have come to identify, I have come to wine, dine and engage with the dependable members of the State Working Committee of APGA, the Igbo party.
“I have come to identify with Igbo party and we have come here to talk to members of this great party and to tell them today that God has answered prayers of Abians, of members and God has anointed this party.
“I have come to fully state, promise every member of this party all over the world that I am here to stay, I am here to work and I am also here to be loyal and follow the doctrines ,the visions of this great party.
“One of the bills I will raise is to appropriate more money for education and reduce unnecessary allowances to politicians including lawmakers. Politics is not a business of poor men. You must have worked hard, excelled in your area of business, and generated wealth before delving into politics. The bills I will introduce will be a reduction of allowances for governors, senators, lawmakers and appropriation of more funds for education, infrastructure, health care and others.”
When asked if he will leave the party if free and fair primaries are conducted and he does not win?
He said, “There’s no need to do that. I’m a party man and I know how the system works.
“Before now, I was in a different party and was asked to step down. It was a decision of the Party and I believe in such decisions because they are supreme. If you call yourself a Party man and the primaries are conducted fairly which you won, the best thing to do is to congratulate your opponent. It’s a friendly contest.
” Anybody who runs against you for a political office is not your enemy but you put your vision forward for the people to know what you have in mind to do for them. If they feel your opponent, who is also a member of the family has more valid points, then they elect the person but if they feel you have more valid points and elect you as the flag bearer of the party then you can proceed to the proper election. If eventually, I do not get the party’s ticket, I will push my structure to the man who has become the flag bearer of the party and the man is elected. I know that APGA will save the day.”
On what the signing of the amended Electoral Act portends as people seem reluctant to vote in the upcoming general election.
“You will not fault those who have become reluctant and discouraged from participating in the electoral process. It has been an overtime an electoral fraud that has existed for over four to five decades but this Electoral Act that we have been clamouring and pushing for the President to sign. You can recall that during the EndSARS protest where there was a lot of violence in Aba, I did an open video to encourage everyone to ensure that they register to vote.
“I also appealed to the President to sign the Electoral Act which allows for individuals to be legitimately elected into office. This time around, there are no more the antiquated ways of doing things that allow people to sit in the confines of their homes to decide who gets what, which has become entirely eradicated and diminished.
“It has now fallen on us, the politicians, to intimate and disseminate information to the electorates that do not participate fully in politics to come out to vote for them to be aware that it’s no more business as usual. Today, the signed Electoral Act has made it available for Nigeria to grow politically. If President Muhammadu Buhari has not done anything in the past eight years, he has done a lot in signing the Electoral Act for it has solved 65% of Nigeria’s impracticable problems.
“We have to make our families, religious leaders, traditional rulers and everyone know that Nigeria is on a path of progress. So everyone should come out to register and vote when the time comes.”
He expressed appreciation to the party chairman and his working committee for the level they have taken the party to as well as extolled President Buhari for signing the Electoral Bill into law adding that with the Act in place, there will be election not selection next year.
He urged all the party faithful to ensure they register and collect their voters’ cards to enable them participate in 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, Primate Elijah Ayodele, leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, has urged Igbos to produce Nigeria’s next president or risk being cursed by their great-grandchildren.
He also urged other Southern and Northern aspirants in the political parties to step down for Igbos to produce candidates for the 2023 presidential election.
In a statement signed by his media aide, Osho Oluwatosin on Sunday Primate Ayodele asked that the next president of Nigeria should come from Igboland for peace to reign in the country.
He said if Igbo leaders allow the presidency to elude them now, “they will not see it till the kingdom comes.”
The man of God warned them against betraying each other while calling on the South and North to step down for the Igbos in both political parties but relayed that he isn’t sure anyone is ready to claim the position among the Igbos.
“Sincerely, without mincing words, the next president should come from Igbo; it’s just unfortunate that they are not that serious with their intentions because there is a political force struggling with it which they need to claim otherwise if it eludes them now, Igbo will never see presidency till kingdom comes.
“Igbo must wake up now; otherwise, they will betray themselves from producing the next president of Nigeria. The South and North should step down for Igbo, let them be used as consensus candidates. This can happen if the Igbo know what they want but do they really know what they want? Are they ready for it? I don’t think so.
“Either they will perform or not, without any misconception, it is Igbo’s turn, but if they fail it, their present leaders will be cursed by their great-grandchildren.”
Primate Ayodele warned Igbo politicians not to allow cabals to choose Nigeria’s next president by uniting beyond party differences so they can produce a presidential candidate.
“Don’t allow the cabals to choose for Nigeria; let them resist the cabal; Igbo should be the next president. It has gone round, their clamour must be taken seriously, and they must unite now to produce the next president; otherwise, their great-grandchildren will curse them.
“If Nigeria wants peace, that’s how it’s supposed to be. Igbo deserve to produce the next president of Nigeria, but who is ready among them? If we want Nigeria to move forward, let us arrange it properly, they deserve the presidency
