Jonathan by Ohanaeze Ndigbo in the forthcoming elections, Presidential
candidate of United Progressive Party, UPP, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has
berated the apex Igbo socio-cultural group for hawking endorsement
like pure water.
Chief Okorie, who was the founder of the All Progressives Grand
Alliance, APGA, as well as UPP, which he chairs, wondered in an
interview with Vanguard in Abuja why the Igbo nation would like to
play second fiddle when UPP had given the zone the opportunity by
ceding the presidential slot to the area.
He, however, said he was not disturbed as, according to him, UPP will
spring some surprises in the elections, which would be the revelation
in the 2015 elections.
He said: "When it comes to politics, this kind of thing has always
happened. Even though what Ohaneze has done this time is a little
scandalous, it has not been different from what has always happened
in Nigerian politics especially the Igbo politics aspect of it.
"The second republic people will remember very well that almost every
Igbo political leader was in NPN and they were all fighting for number
two position.
"It was so bad that what NPN did was to decide to give it to any Igbo
man provided that he brings N2million at that time. It was for the
highest bidder and that was how Alex Ekwueme being a highly successful
contractor and consultant paid.
"He did not become running mate because Igbo people sponsored him but
because he out-paid the others and that was what prompted Nnamdi
Azikiwe to come out because he had already stated that he was not
going to run.
"So, when he saw his own people clamouring for number two position, he
could not reconcile it with the fact that he led the struggle for
Independence. That was how he came and he came late and chose the
smallest of the parties at the time - NPP (Nigeria Peoples Party)
which was founded by Waziri Ibrahim.
"And when he was asked why he did not go to a big party where all his
associates were waiting for him, he said his people were better of
being majority in a minority party where their voice would be heard
than being the minority in a majority party where they would be
assimilated without trace.
"And the masses identified with their own and they voted for him while
others who went to majority parties lost in their domains and NPP
dominated the area (South East). Not just that, Plateau State had a
shoulder to lean and Solomon Lar became the emancipator and liberator
of his people.
"Now is not different, those who will always go to 'food is ready'
will not be part of building anything. I founded APGA, it was worst in
the case of APGA than I am having it now. It was only after we had won
Anambra State through the court that the party became attractive. So,
I am not surprised.
"As a matter of fact, I am not much disappointed by what Ohaneze is
doing now but I feel sorry for my Igbo people. What has happened is
that Ohaneze is simply hawking endorsement as if it is hawking pure
water sachet. An endorsement should be a logical outcome of a
negotiated understanding contained in a written memorandum of
understanding.
"There are so many problems confronting the Igbo people that any
patriotic, caring Pan-Igbo organization will present on the table and
have it negotiated and as a result of that, endorsement will come.
"Look at Afenifere, they are now telling you the reason they are
supporting the government which are justifiable endorsement. What did
Ohaneze say, instead, they are busy denying whether they were given a
particular amount of money or not.
"Is it not scandalous that umbrella organization that is supposed to
speak for the interest of Igbo people has made itself so cheap? This
is not the first time Ohaneze is doing this, it did it in 2011 but
that time, there was no opposition and people could get away with it.
Now, the situation is different. I am running and you will see what
will happen.
"As I said, UPP will be the revelation of 2015 election when the
results start coming in. Why is it that in spite of the spate of
endorsement, the beneficiaries are afraid of the popularity contest
that would be tested on the basis of one man, one?"
He said that he was not worried over such development, adding, "As a
matter of fact, our party will be the revelation of the 2015
Presidential election. New as it is, the leadership of the party
cannot be said to be new in the political domain giving the fact that
I founded the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and I founded this
one also.
Read more at Vanguard:
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