Anthony Iwuoma
One of the presidential aspirants for the 2023 general elections on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Hon. Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba HCN, has broken his silence over his boycott of the party’s presidential primaries held at Eagles Square yesterday.
Nwajiuba, who was one of the leading aspirants suddenly dropped out of reckoning due to manipulations of the exercise against the South-east region contrary to expectations.
To show his displeasure, the former Minister of State for Education decided to stay away from the convention grounds, giving rise to various speculations.
However, clearing the fog, Nwajiuba in a statement he personally signed gave reasons he could no longer continue with the electoral exercise, saying it violated the spirit of justness, equity and fairness to the South-east.
The statement reads:
1. Good morning compatriots.
2. I am issuing this statement after a careful review of our campaign for the presidential ticket of the APC.
3. First, I thank our Almighty God, Creator and Giver of all things, for the gift of everything we are or have. I then will thank all of the many persons, those afar and those around, who through personal services, prayers, texts, advice, financial gifts, donations, and numerous other means, encouraged me.
3. I thank my Family, who have endured my incessant derision of their preference for a less public and risky lifestyle.
4. I thank all my friends, well wishers and even those who may not wish us all that well, but have played their parts in the national discourse.
5. I would urge that no one should be despondent or disappointed. My approach to the Nigeria presidency, is hinged on being able to present a progressive vision of an inclusive, united and focused brand of energy to transform Nigeria into a wholesome economic power house, whose citizens will be better secured to live more fulfillingly.
5. I choose to take the tedious path of following the law, meeting requirements and staying disciplined, in order to sell a paradigm of the same.
6. I appreciate all the sacrifices of time, resources and emotions that have been invested by so many persons, young and old, near and afar in this tedious path.
7. Almost all other aspirants and I agreed to a consensus approach to the selection of our candidate, to effectively maintain the outlook of a progressive family, away from an all for money by highest bidder image, which had already been assigned to another political party.
8. Other aspirants of the south east and I wrote the leadership of our party to appreciate the commitment to move the presidential ticket to the South, and requested a further deepening to the South-east to reflect our primary reason for seeking the office, which remains, “to build a more united and inclusive secured and prosperous nation.” This much has been captured in the communiqué South-east aspirants issued on 22nd of May; the speeches of Mr. President at his meetings with APC governors, that of aspirants and of stakeholders.
9. Following the failure of all these entreaties, it became clear that the convention was headed away from these lofty ideals I subscribe to and will still pursue. I, therefore, declined to attend.
10. These ideals reflected in what some of the South-east aspirants, who chose to attend referred to in their pleas for justice, or need to constitutionally require it, in the face of the absence of conscience. Even their elderly wailing on national television could not move a vote; if I had shouted the same in a more youthfull voice, it may have become inciteful in face of our current security difficulties in the South-east and may thus spite our efforts. Better to stay out.
11. I am committed to pursuing the ideals of a more united, inclusively secured prosperous nation for us all, lending to our dear country, its citizens and those who may be positioned to use it, the experiences acquired, lessons learnt and the various matrix that I may bring to bear.
12. I am grateful for the opportunity to engage all strata of our society, all cadres of of leadership both in our party and our country. I appreciate the luxury of your various audience, in sharing this message.
It will be recalled that the South-east has vehemently canvassed that the region should be allowed to produce Nigeria’s next president at the end of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure next year.
It based its arguments on the fact that of all the other zones only the South-east is yet to occupy the Presidency since the return of democracy in 1999.
However, it has become obvious that the country is not yet ready to accede to their genuine request, as all the APC constants from the zone had been tactically schemed out of the race.
Meanwhile, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has elected former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, as its flag bearer.