By Celestine Okeh, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State born Business Mogul cum philanthropist, Chief Cletus Ike, has urged other Senatorial zones in Ebonyi State to support the power shift from Ebonyi South to North in the 2023 general election.
Chief Ike said, the power shift to Ebonyi North zone is the right to do at this point in time as it will guarantee peace, equity, fair play and political stability in the state.
Cletus Ike, while playing host to Ohaneze youth leadership led by the National Youth Leader, Mazi Damian Okafor, on Thursday, in Abakaliki, said, "some of us are from Ebonyi South and we are fully in support of Ebonyi North zone in producing the next Governor of the state. We will do our best in ensuring that power return to the North because, it will guarantee peace and unity in our state. Anybody that is supporting power to remain in Ebonyi South for the next eight years is enemy of the south. So, the best thing we will do is to support our brothers from the north to clinch the power come 2023. If I have the opportunity of appealing to our brothers in Ebonyi central, I will appeal to them to be patient and support their brothers from the north to produce the next Governor after which, they will go, and after central, it will be the turn of the south again. So, with that, there will be peace in the state", he stated.
Chief Cletus Ike, who is a critical stakeholder in Ivo local Government Area commended Governor David Umahi's giant strides in the state and called on all Ebonyians to support and vote for Rt Hon Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for Governor of the state to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Umahi.
In a similar vein, Chief Ike lamented the injustice meted on the people of the south east by the power brokers and charged the leadership of Apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, 'OHANAEZE NDIGBO' worldwide, to declare their stand on the 2023 presidential race.
Chief Ike, bemourned the silence of OHANEZE and other Igbo leaders on the matter, even as Igbo son, Mr Peter Obi is tipped favourite for the job and has been enjoying overwhelming support from other ethnic and geopolitical zones of the country.
He enjoined Ohaneze to declare their stand, considering the political bickering and the controversy generated by aggressive agitations for president of Igbo extraction.
"The leaders of this country is aware that what they are doing to South East is not good. Since the return of democracy in 1999, South East has not tested power. In 1999, the south west occupied the president position in the person of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Dr Good luck Jonathan from South South also occupied the position and now that it is coming back to South, instead of giving it South East, it was equally given back to West where the current vice president, speaker of the House of Representatives comes from. Instead of supporting the south east, they are doing their magic again.
"Whatever that be, Igbos suppose to put their house together. I am surprised at what Amambra State Governor is doing. Many people thought weather he's paid or not to do what he is doing. It is a shameful act but he's our brother and Ohanaeze has a lot to do in uniting the Igbos. They are umbrella body of all Igbo socio-cultural organization. If you watch, you see that Igbos are in different political parties and each tends to support their own party, but it is Ohanaeze president with the support of the youths that supposed to call all of them together. Why can't you support your own. It is when we do this that every other thing will fall in. The truth is that, it is the turn of Igbo man, it is the turn of South East. The question is, what is the position of Ohanaeze. What is the position of leaders of South East. It is not late. You can make amend, it is not late.
"Whoever that is in South East that is not supporting the issue of this zoning formula is playing the spoiler game. But why would someone from the south not support the south east. Your president, Prof Obiozor, I don't know if age is disturbing him, but you should reach out to him. Let him reach out to all political actors and Igbo leaders to come together and agree on something that will better the lots of Igbos.
"Mr Peter Obi, who is from a minority party is enjoying overwhelming support from other people. The youths are supporting him. Other tribes are supporting him and the young man weather he wins or loses, he is not loosing anything because he's already made, but we are talking of our children-children. If all the Governors , if all the political leaders from South East Can come together and take decision, Igbos can still make it to the top, but regrettably, some of them are not interested in the future of our children. They are not interested about our welfare, they are only interested about their pockets but I'm sure, God can still change their minds. My advice is for them to see reasons why they can support and work for the south east.
"Every South Easterners are in bondage and everyone should work together to librate us. The hatred is evident that we are still in war, if not, they wouldn't have denied us the opportunity of become the president even when it is our turn. I urge that all efforts should be made to ensure that Igbos assume their rightful place in the leadership of Nigeria.
He commended the Ohaneze youths leadership for the visit assuring them of his readiness to partner them in their beat to sensitizatize the youths of South East and other activities they are embarking on.
Earlier, the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze, Mazi Damian Okafor said, the youth leaders paid a courtesy visit to seek partnership with him as on of the leader they have enormous respect for, and appreciate him on his undying Suport for the administration of Engr David Umahi in the state, which has been in the culture of Ohanaeze in identifying with good things and urge him sustain the tempo.
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