By Uchenna Okolie, Maiduguri
An Elderstatesman and Chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Borno state, Alhaji Ahmed Ashemi, has described the clamour for power shift to the South East Nigeria as a panacea to bringing stability and peace to the nation.
The APC Chieftain however urged elders and leaders in the South East to douse the problem of insecurity in their region by prevailing on the the Indigenous People of Biafra ( IPOB ), Eastern Security Network (ESN)and others to sheath their sword for peace to reign.
Alhaji Ashemi made his opinion known on Sunday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.
He said if the South East really wants to be part of the union and also benefit from participating in the leadership of the country, they must put their acts together
He said: "Talking of power shift, there is the need to give the South East an opportunity if only they will put their acts together and bring a candidate that is acceptable and trusted by the rest of the country.
"We have to call a spade a spade, as a result of the unfortunate past such as civil war and some massacre, coupled with suspicion and mistrust, there have been fear of any one from the South East particularly becoming president of Nigeria.
"Now, it is left to the South East, if they really want to be part of this union and also benefit from participating in the leadership of this country, to put their acts together. And one of the first steps they can take now is to douse the problem of insecurity that is now being witnessed in the region through the activities of secessionist groups and so on.
"In my opinion, that is not the way to seek political power in a federation like Nigeria. So elders and leaders of the South East region must prevail on these people that are now trying to bring about insecurity and instability to the country to please sheath their Sword and follow democratic way of doing it.
"I believe that there are a lot of people who will support their ambition because of fairness and justice, that every sector of this country should taste the power and contribute to the running of the country. And that is the only panacea to bringing about stability to our country so that everybody must feel that they belong also," Alhaji Ashemi noted.
On the impending APC Convention, the elderstatesman opined that the leadership of the party at the national level should not allow themselves to be viewed as if they are manipulating their positions to perpetuate themselves in the leadership of the party.
He urged the APC Caretaker Committee to respect their own promise of conducting free and fair congresses and convention to provide leadership for the party in the country.
As for the Chairmanship of the party at the national level, the APC Chieftain maintained that if the presidency is zoned to the South, the Chairmanship of the party should be zoned to the North East particularly, to Borno state .
Alhaji Ashemi said for the fact that Borno has remained a solid base of the APC from its inception, and that being there is no foreseeable party that can dislodge APC in the state, the party should reciprocate it by zoning either the Vice Presidential or Chairmanship slot of the party to Borno state. NNL.