Dan Opara
One of the major arguments in Imo State especially from Rt.Hon Emeka Ihedioha-led Imo Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is that power should rotate to Owerri zone, being the zone with the least time on the ‘throne’ at Douglas House.
It was the reason for the meeting held by the party at Egbu sometime ago.
Personally, this has been a call I personally supported being that what is good for the goose should also be good for the gander.
I was however taken aback, when I saw supporters of Ihedioha, the same people clamouring for equity and zoning in Imo State, at the forefront of the presidential aspiration of Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, at a time all of Igbo land is clamouring for a Nigerian president from the South East.
Since after the Nigeria/Biafra Civil War, the South East have been denied the chance of leading the country, despite having made more contributions to the growth and unity of the country.
At the present, the South East is presenting some of the best hands that can reposition Nigeria, and set the country on the path towards greatness.
With people like Peter Obi, Dave Umahi, Anyim Pius Anyim or even Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, less a few bad eggs in the mix, the South East has all it take to transform this country and make it the greatest country on the face of the continent, a position we held once upon a time.
But seeing people we look up to in the South East, for their personal benefits, working against the unanimous desires of Ndi Igbo could be termed as disappointing.
Granted that Ihedioha has history with Tambuwal as his former boss at the National Assembly and probably hopes to be picked up as Tambuwal’s Vice Presidential candidate, if the Sokoto governor manages to secure the party ticket, it would amount to hypocrisy, if Ihedioha or his supporters would come out in 2023/24 and demand for equity in Imo State.
So let’s imagine that Tambuwal fails to clench the ticket, we’ll most likely suddenly see Ihedioha clamouring once again for equity and zoning.
Politicians! They are all the same.
By Ihedioha’s support for a Northern candidate, despite the fact that the North have dominated the leadership of the country since after the Civil War, he should also support the emergence of any candidate from any zone, without playing the zoning and equity card for Ndi Imo again.
It is actions such as these, that expose the selfishness of politicians who have no regard for the interests of the people, as they always put their selfish interests ahead of that of the entire people.
I honestly hope Nigeria will see reason to allow an Igbo man lead this country while urging Ihedioha to throw his support behind the call for Igbo presidency, if he hopes to be taken seriously when he comes preaching equity in 2023/24.
