As South East Zone Parades Array Of Presidential Talents At Abuja Pro-Nigeria Confab
Eminent Leaders Re-Affirm Anyim
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief) @CelestineOkaf11
Peoples Democratic Party's (PDP) foremost presidential aspirant in the 2023 general elections, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, was the cynosure of all eyes on Monday, April 25, 2022, as the former President of the Nigerian Senate revealed what he will do for Nigeria if elected president, next year.
Anyim made his promises to the nation as he also restated his cognate qualities and capacity to do the job of President when he spoke at an Igbo political mobilisation group, Nzuko Umuna, operating on the platform of the Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC), which held at the Executive Hall of the International Conference Centre (ICC), in Abuja.
The reason for the political meet, according to it's Chief Convener/Chairman of the Greater Nigeria Conference, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, a former Governor of Enugu State and an ex-PDP National Chairman, was essentially to showcase the presidential materials and aspirants of Igbo South East origin to the Nigerian people and also to appeal to them, across the geo-political divide of the country, to zone the 2023 presidential slot to the Igbos of the South East Nigeria, on the basis of equity, justice and fair play.
Anyim spoke extempore, for less than three minutes, in a pin-drop silent hall, and all eyes of fellow aspirants and guests were riveted at him as he unfurled his agenda with precision and practiced eloquence.
He first thanked the Igbo event organisers, as well as non Igbos who attended the conference, particularly elderstatesmen, Pa Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and Dr Bitrus Pogu, for their consistent support for the quest for a South East presidency, in 2023.
Anyim said: “...What we needed to do after seeing the videos and after the presentations, would simply be to thank the initiators of this conference. It was quite timely and I thank you immensely.
“I also thank leaders of other geo-political zones that are here today to support us. It is quite patriotic and courageous for them to do all they have been doing for all of us.”
Speaking on the myraids of Nigeria's problems, his formular and capacity for solving them, Senator Anyim said he will provide the needed political leadership that will animate or amp up the nation's socio-economic activities, which, he assured, will launch Nigeria on the part of uncommon new age development.
On his national transformation mission, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) said "experience is important; exposure is important; knowledge is important. And I make bold to say that I have the experience, the exposure and the knowledge to superintend over the affairs of this country.
“I have worked in Abuja for about 33 years and all through my public service career, I have served only in the presidency. My civil service career was in the presidency. As President of the Senate, I worked with the President to run the country and as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I was the engine room of the presidency. My experience is cognate and my exposure is nationwide", he told his audience.
But taking a broad look, however, at the country's socio-political and economic challenges, Senator Anyim pointed out what he described as a mistake by people who think that the economic aspect is the most fundamental, arguing that indeed the political problem which deals with the leadership question is the hub that drives other aspects of our national life.
According to the former leader of Nigeria's federal parliament, that explains why nations with strong economies run into problems and disintegrate when the political leadership is not fixed. Anyim however promised to provide that requisite political leadership if elected president in February next year and sworn in as the next Nigerian leader.
"I want to emphasize that the most critical and urgent challenge of our country today is political which includes leadership. You have to have a politically stable country before you can build the economy. You have to have a country before you can have social cohesion. If I have the opportunity to lead this country, I will, working with Nigerians, build the needed consensus, to lay a new foundation upon which we will rebuild our nation.
“I usually segment the challenges before the country into political, social and economic. Most of the time people see the economic challenges as if it is the most important. ...If I have the opportunity to lead this country, you will see consensus. I will set up a new foundation upon which we will build our nation", Anyim promised.
His presentation was vigorously applauded by the conferees, most of who averred that his candidacy remains the most viable among all contenders.
Chief Onukaogu Nwanne, an Enugu-based legal luminary, said he was enthusiastic about Anyim’s aspiration. “He is coming into this contest fully prepared. He has the most diverse knowledge of Nigeria and he is a bridge-builder. With him as president, Nigeria will heal and recover fast,” the lawyer said.
Chairman of the occasion, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, who emphasized on the theme of the Greater Nigeria Conference: “Abuja 2023: Together We Can,” however reminded Nigerians of the 1999 political arrangement that produced the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency even when he was apparently unpopular in the South West Zone where he comes from.
Nwodo stated that, “Even in our own party, the Peoples Democratic Party, we chose a candidate that was not popular in his own region. The opposition party chose a candidate that was popular in that region. But together, Nigerians elected Obasanjo as their president.
“And we are asking, today that the Southeast is bleeding from marginalisation and injustice, why can’t Nigerians, people of conscience and goodwill come together to enthrone a Southeast president?
“This injustice must stop. This marginalization must come to an end. We have to heal the wounds of the civil war. Do we have to wait for 100 years before that is done? We are appealing to our fellow country men and women. The time is now, the place is here to say that any part of our country that is bleeding, let us hold them and stop the bleeding.
“Why is it that when it comes to the South East, the conscience of the nation takes a flight? We have come here today to re-awaken that conscience, to tell our country that injustice to one is injustice to all. Today, it may be the South East, who knows who will be the next tomorrow?
“Let us make sure that nobody is left behind. That is the only way we can build a solid egalitarian society that will meet the needs of our people.
“In a short while, we will show you the profile of the great men and women from the South East that are vying for the Presidency. When you see their profile, you will know that we are not joking. We have men of timbre and calibre, caterpillar and bulldozer, conscience and capacity. As a better of fact, capacity is here today. Integrity is here. Vision for a greater Nigeria is on display here today.”
However, in her welcome speech, President of Nzuko Umunna and a frontline Journalist and former lawmaker, Senator Chris Anyanwu, said giving the South East the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s president this time around will achieve a number of things among which are: equity, commitment to progress and team play.
“If you place premium value on our bonds of relationships, if you believe that working together we can make our beloved country greater, if you believe in equity and inclusiveness, if you believe that the other sibling has a right to be treated as an equal stakeholder/partner in this enterprise, then may I invite you to join me to say Yes, Together We can make Nigeria greater,” Anyanwu said.
Leader of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Pa Edwin Clark and leader of the Pan-Yoruba Socio-Cultural Group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, as well the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Professor George Obiozor, were all present as Special Guests of Honour at the conference, while Dr Bitrus Pogu, President of the Middle Belt Forum, was the guest speaker.
Pogu who spoke passionately in support of the South East Presidency, reminded the conference that PDP, in particular, has no excuse to jettison zoning as some of their members from the Northern part of the country are now advocating.
Pogu said: "When some people, out of selfish political interests, argue that zoning does not matter, it is necessary for us to tell them that zoning does matter. The PDP must be fair to the South East by zoning the presidency to the South East". He urged the Igbos to unite and work together in unity in order not to give room for them to be denied what rightly belongs to them in 2023.
In his own speech, Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, traced the political evolution of Nigeria from the colonial era and concluded that Nigerians, as a matter of national priority, need to uphold equity, fairness and justice.
Adebanjo counseled that, "A clear demonstration of the readiness of Nigerians to build a united and inclusive nation will be to zone the presidency to the south East in 2023".
The presidential aspirants present at the conference, cut across all political platforms. They presented a five-minute video of their profile and were given another three minutes each to address the confab.
A video clip where Senator Anyim described himself as the “village boy” that conquered challenges to play not only on the national but also international stage was outstanding.
There were testimonials on the capacity of Senator Anyim Pius Anyim to lead the country in 2023 from eminent Nigerian leaders like former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Goodluck Jonathan; former military Heads of State, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, and the immediate past President-General of the foremost Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo.
The Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC) was attended by other presidential aspirants including: Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, topflight pharmacist and boardroom guru; Engineer Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State; Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State; Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, a U.S.-based medical doctor; Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Productivity; Senator Anayo Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State and Senator representing Imo West District in the Senate; Bishop (Mrs.) Ify George Offorkansi, Yahaya Ndu and Mrs. Caroline Nwosu. NNL.
