The All Progressive Congress Party has held its south east colloquium in Nnewi, Anambra state. The colloquium with it's theme De- Marginalization of the south east and integration into national politics harped on the need for Igbo's to see reason, why they should connect to the center in a bid to get the desired democratic dividends.
Speaking at the event, the vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, who was the keynote speaker at the colloquium, said lack of appreciation and outright denial of the rights of the south-east from having access to mainstream politics, have continued because the region has failed to do the needful by over looking at the options before the zone.
He said, that the current political arrangement has not favored the south east, and recounted the fact that political marginalization has been the major problem of the south east, as it doesn't make sense, that the political representation of only two states in the north covers that of the south east, a situation he posited as disheartening.
He said that going forward, the burden lies on the Igbo nation to breed and field candidates of unpeckable degree of excellence, as excellence he said contacts discrimination. He however said that marginalization is a form of discrimination and every discrimination feeds on mediocrity and stigma " I want to let you know that the Igbo man from inception has never been a mediocre, and if we begin to settle things with mediocrity around the igbo man, that is a misrepresentation of history"
Esimone said, “Who is marginalising the South-East? The first culprit is the constitution. The second is the inability to conduct a credible census. Without a credible census, there won’t be room for equity. Equity has the potential to calm frayed nerves, and that has not been effectively explored.
The mismanagement of the three ‘Rs’he also said has effectively laid the foundation for the marginalization of the south east. He bemoaned the lack of federal establishments in the south east as against what is seen in cities like Zaria and Lagos that has more federal establishments than the whole of South-East.
“One of the things that has caused self marginalization is insecurity. It eases away investment into the region. Marginalization affects groups. The current political calculation does not favour the South-East."
He therefore posited that for marginalization to cease, there is need to revert back to the republican system which will recognize the six geo political zones, as it will birth chances of a rotational presidency. The leadership of the executive, legislature and judiciary he said should also be rotated as that will foster further integration of the Igbo's into Nigerian nation.
He therefore opined that the only way for Igbo's to chart a cause for this integration, is by alining to the central government, while he commended the people of IMO and Ebonyi for being at the forefront of this national integration by joining the ruling party, the APC.
In his address, the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, said Anambra State is not making the progress the state is expected to make because it is not connected to the central government.
Ganduje, the Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma and other APC stalwarts are currently attending the APC South-East Colloquium taking place in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The colloquium themed, ‘De-marginalisation of South-East zone and integration into national politics’, is being hosted by the Senator representing Anambra South, Ifeanyi Ubah.
Speaking at the event, Ganduje said, “We are most grateful to participate in this dialogue that affects the South-East region. Ndigbo are very important to national integration because they are well travelled across the country, and Anambra is Strategic to this integration of the south east.
“Anambra is a strategic state in the South-East, but it is not making the progress that a state is supposed to make because it is not connected to the central government and that is the missing link and it is not benefiting the state. From former Governors Peter Obi, Willie Obiano and now Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.
“Governors are now using their connection with the centre to better their state. Why should Anambra continue to live in isolation, what is the benefit for this? Even those who governed Anambra State quickly abandoned the party after they have governed the state, this is the height of selfishness.
“Anambra’s refusal to connect with the centre has denied the people of benefit and great infrastructure. Anambra has failed to transit and it is trapped. If you are not at the table, nobody will speak for you and that is the situation with Anambra since 1999. Anambra is the only state being ruled by the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the party has refused to grow.
“The South-West states were initially ruled by Alliance for Democracy in 1999, but later, they became ACN and by political sagacity of our leader who is the president today, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the South-West states continue to grow in strength, that is political dynamism. But APGA has continued to remain in a state and it shouldn’t continue like this.
“It is time for political celebration and we are hopeful that APC will take over Anambra through Senator Ifeanyi Ubah. Anambra is the heartbeat of the South-East political zone and it is time for the state to join the centre party for it to grow, we are to make sure that Anambra connects to the center. No more intimidation, Anambra is strategic to the Nigerian economy and it must connect to the centre.”
Also speaking, the governor of Imo state and All Progressive Governor's Forum Chairman, H.E Senator Hope Uzodimma advised the South-East to key into the national integration of the APC.
Uzodimma explained that the colloquium is intended to stimulate the political party in the South-East, which will be used to better the region, adding that the time shall come when inventory will be taken, for those who stood by the South east for it's advancement.
“It is a thing of joy that the national leadership of the APC has acknowledged that the South-East is being marginalised. Having diagnosed this, the question is who is this doctor that will prescribe the medicine to adopt for it's cure, I think the national leader of the party is here to do that."
“We must identify national integration, national cohesion, and national unity so that we can have a pan- Nigerian project. The South-East is yearning for a united Nigeria where equity and justice are the yardsticks, and it means we must be in the room where decisions are taken."
“If we are committed to joining this programme and campaign for de-marginalisation, it means we must join the ruling political party. I think what we need is the process of precarious panacea to be part of this national consensus.
“The Nigerian project today has no room for those who are in lamentation, it belongs to those who are pragmatic and they must adopt the pragmatic approach, we must understand the political dynamism to navigate the terrain,” Uzodimma added.
Senator Ubah in his speech, commended the national leadership of APC for leaving their busy schedules to come to Anambra, a move he said is patriotic even in the period of the Ramadam fast. He said it's about time, the Igbo's , especially Ndi Anambra looked at options before them, which is the only option that can the them to the promise land. He said " a student who has stayed in one class for 18 years is not a good student."
He asked that Ndi Anambra should look at the prospects of being at the center, and forget the propaganda of certain selfish individuals who have held the people hostage through mental enslavement that "this is their's," when for a fact they have taken the commonwealth of the state for their own personal gains.
Speaking further, Prof Nick Eze said that it's pertinent that the South East is long overdue and it's time for the national alignment that has happened on Imo and Ebonyi to also happen in Anambra. As Igbo's should come out from the doldrums of self denial and embrace the center which happens to be the only way forward.
In the same vein the former deputy governor of Anambra state, Dr Nkem Okeke also stated that the South East Development Commission which has been passed by the national assembly will further help develop the south east which he said is the function of the national government. He therefore called on well meaning Anambrians to join hands to ensure they join the alliance by joining the APC. He concluded.