– Insists it is the turn of South East
A political pressure group of the South East zone under the aegis of “South East for President 2023 (aka SEFORP 2023) movement”, has berated a recent media statement credited to the former Governor of Abia State now Majority Chief Whip in the senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu that the office of the President in 2023 should be open to all willing aspirants regardless of region as zoning is not enshrined in the constitution of the ruling party. SEFORP Insisted that the 2023 Presidency must be zoned to the South East zone as canvassed by other groups including Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
In a statement issued by the movement following the address of the former governor during his recent visit to the former two Nigerian Heads of State, General Ibrahim Babaganda and Abdulsalami Abubakar, the group expressed total disappointment at the position of the Senator Chief Whip that the matter of Presidency zoning in 2023 is a non-issue but a matter that would be addressed by the various political parties who would choose candidates to represent them at the polls and that the party decision is supreme on the issue as zoning does not exist in the consitution of All Progressives Congress (APC)
Speaking on behalf of the movement, the National Co-ordinator of the group, Rev. Okechukwu Obioha insisted that Dr. Kalu who expressed his willingness to go for the Presidency if his people choose him for the top job is being economical with truth and realities of the vexed issue that other zones have had a shot at the presidency except South East and that come 2023 the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria must come from South East zone as it is the only thug that is equitable, just and fair.
“First, SEFORP2023 is grossly feeling disappointed that the above statement is coming from a supposed representative of his people of the South East (Igbo) in the capacity of a Senator and no less a position as the Chief Whip of the red chamber. Very unfortunate.
Second, SEFORP2023 must remind him that he is ignorant of history to note that till date, the six zonal structure which is now the bases for revenue formulae, political, economic and social sharing is not yet embedded in our constitution and yet it is an acceptable formula and a norm.
Thirdly, he is economical with the truth and realities here, if he will forget so soon what and how he secured the position of the Chief Whip, as he had argued and canvassed vehemently that the Southeast must be given a principal office in the red chamber as part of zoning, which as he insisted, must be respected. Was that in the constitution of the APC.
We advise him to reconsider his position as stated and know that the Presidency, which is now residing in the North for eight years by 2023, will come down to the South and that will be morally the right and turn of his southeast zone (Igbo).
Coming down to the South in 2023, and since the SW (OBJ) and SS (GEJ) have had it, it is the turn of the Southeast zone.
This is the position of SEFORP2023 and why we debuted since February 2019, advocating to Nigeria, Nigerians and particularly to the likes of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu of the South East (Igbo), political parties and the powers that be to do the needful.
What is good for the goose is also good for the gander. The Southeast zone are not spectators in this country, concluded”.
