President Goodluck Jonathan is expected in Enugu, on Friday this week, as arrangements have been concluded by the Governors of the South East Geo-Political Zone on how to receive him and make the event successful.
Although the governors refused to brief newsmen on the outcome of their meeting, it was gathered that the President’s visit to the South East for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zonal rally topped the agenda.
A stalwart of the party confided in THE CITIZEN that President is expected to use the opportunity to talk with some aggrieved members of the party in the South East that have defected to opposition parties.
Those that attended the S/East governors forum include the Anambra State Governor; Dr Wille Obiano, Enugu State; Bar Sullivan Chime, Ebonyi State; Chief Martins Elechi and the chairman of the forum, Chief Theodore Orji; governor of Abia State. The governor of Imo State, Chief Rochas Okorocha did’t come nor sent a representative.
The proposed rally is coming at a time the All Progressives Congress (APC) is calling on Ndigbo to join the progressives train, warning that a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction would remain an illusion under the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Spokesman of the APC in South-East, Osita Okechukwu made the call shortly after he voted at the ward congress of the party in Central School Ekeh, Enugu State.
The appeal came amidst the conclusion of plans by South-East Governors Forum to hold a grand rally in Enugu coming weekend to drum up support for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
Okechukwu however called on Ndigbo to shine their eyes and join the progressive train to fix Nigeria and save the country from disintegration under the PDP led Federal Government.According to him, time has come for Ndigbo to give support to APC and be part of a new Nigeria.
“APC’s victory in 2015 presidential election is certain, for the election is a referendum on President Goodluck Jonathan’s regime, a regime which metaphor is corruption and poor performance. And it will be painful if the hard working Igbo people are not part of this historic victory.
“Otherwise, Ndigbo should not blame any group for marginalization. As our people say, Ndigbo should count the pay back vis-avis the unalloyed support they gave the corrupt and inept leadership of President Jonathan and the PDP as a party in the last decade.
“Is it the political motivated ground breaking 2nd Niger Bridge fanfare, that is not in any federal budget or the make believe Enugu international airport? Can we in all honesty trust a president who cannot complete his own road – the East-West Road in the last four years? Is charity not supposed to start at home? We cannot be deceived twice” Okechukwu said.
Saying that it was still early for Ndigbo to join the moving progressives train, The APC Zonal spokesman warned that voting for President Jonathan in 2015 presidential election was akin to “selling our birthright for mess of porridge” as other geo -geopolitical zones rate the President Jonathan’s slot Ndigbo’s slot.
He maintained that under PDP a president of Igbo extraction cannot materialize before 2027, while voting for APC would guarantee Ndigbo president on or before 2023.
Meanwhile, the ward congress at Central School Ekeh, was conducted under tight security and witnessed by officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from Udi local government area secretariat.
A total of 248 members of APC from Ekeh ward took part in the exercise.
According to the results announced by the Returning Officer, Mr Eze Chibueze, Augustine Umeh polled 176 votes to emerge ward chairman, Christopher Anochiri (176 votes)-Vice Chairman and Ikem Ifudu(158)- Secretary.
