South East Group Lauds Orji Kalu’s Decision To Support Ahmad Lawan
A political support group from the South-East has thrown their weight on the Senate Chief whip and former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, on his recent withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race. In a statement read by the spokesman of the South East Political Youths Forum (SEPYF), Amb. Bernard Francis, highlighted that such move at this time is necessary, following the politics played by politicians from the South West, on their refusal to support the South-East region in the 2023 electioneering year.
Reading the communique to newsmen at the end of their executive meetings held in Enugu State on Saturday 14, 2022,the spokesman noted that the South-East and the North-East are on the receiving ends of the unfair treatment in the political leadership of the nation, calling on Nigeria politicians to put first, the unity of the nation, over selfish desires. The statement read.
“We have seen again the kind of politicians parading to lead a country that is at the verge of collapse, talking of it’s unity and economic instability. 2023 is expected to be a good time to address equity and the competence of our leaders, of which, this competence is deposited in all regions of our nation, Nigeria.
“It is of great regrets that some of our political brothers from the South-West, took a step to defy one of the rules of solidarity, which is ‘Reciprocation’, in the company of some other politicians from the South South.
“A Wise leader however, uses judiciously his initiatives, which is said to be the key to every success. Therefore, no wise leader would go into a contest, knowing well the resultants of such contest would be futile.
“The chief whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has used his initiatives, he is as a matter of facts, one, among the greatest leaders the South-East could have. He was the first to concede to fighting for the 2023 presidency from the South-East, if the zoning was respected.
“Orji Uzor Kalu, was all over the media and wide consultations on the accounts of this zoning formula. He made it clear to Nigerians how unfair the nation had been to the South-East and the North-East alike. In the eventuality of this struggle, politicians from the South-West were unable to reciprocate the support given to them from the South- East, in 1999 through 2007. They rather, are hiding under the hospices of been more qualified from the Southern political zone to lead the nation.
“What these politicians from the South-West have done, is simply a display of selfishness and possible hypocorism and not for an intending nation building. These politicians from the South-West, would have thrown their heart to supporting the South-East, just like the South-East did in previous elections, to foster unity. That is the right thing to do! Building on the unity of the nation, carrying all regions along.
“However, with the South-West refusal to support the South-East, the best option for the South-East is to support a region of the nation that are also, partakers in this unfair treatment of political leadership and power, the North-East, the region of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, whom had in his years of experience, distinguished himself in his services to the nation.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has made the South-East proud, for not supporting any of the presidential aspirants from the South-West in the 2023 election. It is a good decision and we stand with him on that. You can’t humiliate the South-East and expect our support!
“We want to as a group, the South East Political Youths Forum, adjure a change of narratives by those taking Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race and his support for the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, for betrayal to the South-East. We rather, see Senator Orji Uzor Kalu’s decision to be a fightback against those that don’t want the emergence of South-East presidency in the 2023 election. It is the right way to go, for any Southeasterner, to prove our disapproval on the betrayal of some of our political brothers, from the South-West.
“If the South-East or the North-East, are unable to be supported for the next Nigeria president in 2023, to succeed Mr President Muhammadu Buhari, it would be conspicuous, there’s no unity in the country. To abolished zoning that promotes indigenous unity means, some region see themselves as more owner of our one united Nigeria.” The statements concluded.
