Muideen Olaniyi
3 July 2009
Abuja — The Presidency of the Federal Republic would most likely move to the Southeast geo-political zone after President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua completes his tenure in office, Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Dr Bello Haliru Mohammed said in Abuja yesterday. Towards this end, the zone should be united in order to earn the trust of all Nigerians, he also said.
Mohamed was speaking in Abuja when the Olokoro Community from Abia State paid a solidarity visit to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, who hails from the area.
The deputy chairman said, "After the presidency moves from the North after the administration of President Umaru Yar'Adua, we expect it to move to the Southeast. That is the simple truth about it. There must be unity among the Igbo race to show that they can be trusted with leadership like the presidency. If the southeast cannot be united behind a leader or their elders, it would be difficult to entrust the Igbo race with leadership when it moves from the north to the southeast."
Dr. Bello Mohamed reminded the Igbos of the need to exhibit good leadership qualities ahead of the 2015 presidential elections. He further said, "We therefore want to remind you that this is the time for you to work for it. We have no doubt in the leadership of an Igbo man, but the Igbo race must unite to show leadership. They must unite to show leadership in PDP and in Nigeria."
Corroborating Dr Mohammed's position, PDP's National Publicity Secretary Prof. Rufa'i Ahmed Alkali said, "This message from the Deputy National Chairman should not be lost on the Igbo race and what it stands for."
Earlier, National Chairman Ogbulafor had challenged the Olokoro Community on the need to ensure that the PDP wins the next governorship election in Abia State. He said, "Make sure that by the next election, we get back the state for the PDP. Let it be a task and a challenge that must be accomplished."
Ogbulafor also welcomed the National Treasurer of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), who recently decamped to PDP. He said the party has decided to summon all its state governors to account for their stewardship.
President of the Olokoro Progress Association (OPA) Eze Hyacinth Okezie said their visit to the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) was to show solidarity with Ogbulafor.
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Why is this story generating controversy because South East was mentioned. Are they slaves in their own country. Nigeria takes a lot of chances and that is how they continued to treat Niger Delta with contempt until it degenerated to a level of sham amnesty. Igbos are looked down on even in the working places. Why? The fourth estate which the press represents is not removed from this as Igbo reporters and editors and reporters are treated with contempt even in the so-called frontline media that hold concerts all over the world (ethnicity rears its head there. Do not mind… [Read Full Text]