Nigeria’s Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, on Tuesday ruled out speculations that many members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, would soon defect to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
He assured his supporters that he would not defect to the opposition over the recent defeat of President Good luck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, at the March 28 Presidential Election.
Ekweremadu, who gave the assurance during his meeting with stakeholders of the party in Enugu West Senatorial zone held at his Enugu Residence, however, stated that Ndigbo have nothing against the President-Elect, Major General Mohamadu Buhari, (Retd).
He disclosed that Igbos would work hand-in-hand with Buhari “in line with our regional agenda and overall development of Nigeria”.
His speech read in full: “The Presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone. As it is commonly said among our people, ‘Agbachaa oso, agukoo mile’- at the end of every race, there is always the need for stocktaking. Therefore, our gathering today, is primarily to take stock and chart the way forward.
First, let me warmly congratulate and thank you for your great showing during the March 28, 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections. I deeply appreciate your massive vote for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. You turned out en masse to make a bold statement- that Enugu West, Enugu State, and indeed the South East are undeniable PDP strongholds. True to your assurances, you returned my humble self as your Senator in a grand style that left no one in doubt of the confidence you repose in me and your satisfaction with my representation since 2003.
I thank you also for returning Hon. Toby Okechukwu as a ranking Member of the House of Representatives and for electing Hon. Dennis Amadi to occupy the Udi/Ezeagu Federal Constituency seat. I am particularly proud that in doing so, you comported yourselves most honourably like patriots that you are, thus ensuring that the elections went smoothly in our senatorial district.
Let me also seize this platform to say a big thank you and congratulations to the other nine candidates who vied for the seat with me. I am happy that our people freely exercised their franchise and that none of the candidates raised objections to my renewed mandate. I want to particularly appreciate my closest rival, Mrs. Luisa Achieze of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who conceded defeat and congratulated me right there at the Awgu collation centre. To that extent, therefore, we can say that democracy and the people of Enugu West were the real winners.
Good people of Enugu West:
It is however sad to note that our presidential candidate, His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR and indeed our great party did not succeed at the presidential polls. It was a most unpredictable loss. But like a gallant democrat, our President took the world by surprise by calling to congratulate and concede victory to the winner, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd). It was one great and defining moment for Nigerian democracy for which I have already congratulated him on your behalf. In defeat, our President and party stand tall amidst global encomiums. Nigeria has won again, proving the doomsday prophets wrong.
In the same vein, although you and other great party supporters gave the PDP all the available National Assembly seats in the South East, the party, nevertheless, has lost its majority in both Chambers of the National Assembly. I have read and listened to many lament what they regard as the South East misadventure in view of the emerging scenarios at the federal level. But, let me assure you that Ndigbo have done nothing to be ashamed of and we owe no one any apologies for casting our ballots for the PDP. For me, therefore, our voting pattern is rather a defining moment for Ndigbo because we spoke with one voice and we are proud of our electoral decisions. We voted for a party that integrated us into the mainstream of Nigerian politics, elected/appointed our people into strategic offices, and addressed some of our major infrastructural challenges. You would agree with me that Enugu West in particular has never had it so good in infrastructural transformation. So, we took a principled position and accept full responsibility for our political choices.
Meanwhile, it is also noteworthy that the 1999 Constitution makes it impossible for any state or group of states to suffer any discrimination in the allocation of resources and opportunities. Every state is entitled to one Minister. Every state will also have its share of other federal appointments. The National Assembly also has the final say in the issue of national budget and will always ensure a fair distribution of resources. The Senate in particular is an assembly of very patriotic Nigerians who would not allow any state to suffer any discrimination irrespective of any political persuasion.
Way Forward for Ndigbo:
I have read various statements credited to some opposition elements on how the South East and the PDP would be overrun in the forthcoming governorship election. I want to categorically state that these are wishful thinking. They have not taken cognisance of the history of the PDP and the fact that Ndigbo, as personified by of elder statesman and former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme played the lead role in midwifing the PDP. By the emerging scenario, therefore, and as far as the South East is concerned, the PDP is only coming home to roost.
I have also heard a lot of permutations on the possible mass defection of Ndigbo to the APC in the coming dispensation. While I will not hold brief for all the PDP stalwarts of South East origin, especially because our constitution provides for freedom of association, I can assure you that on PDP we stand. At least, count Senator Ike Ekweremadu out of any defection to the opposition. PDP leaders in the South East are committed to further repositioning and strengthening the party. We may not have the presidency, but we are strong in the states and remain the party to beat. On PDP we stand.
Buhari and South East PDP:
It needs to be reiterated, however, that the South East PDP and indeed Ndigbo have nothing against General Mohammadu Buhari (retd) as a person or against his incoming administration. We will work hand-in-hand with him in line with our regional agenda and overall development of Nigeria. We will give him all the support to succeed because he was elected as the President of Nigeria, not president of the APC or any section of the country in particular. He has the choice to be a statesman, bringing every part of the country on board his government or to run an exclusive government. He has the choice to ensure that no part of this country is discriminated against in the distribution of opportunities and development projects on account of their ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, and region or to do otherwise. But I believe that whatever choices he makes will determine his place in history.
The Alleged Threat by Oba of Lagos:
I was alarmed when I read threats allegedly issued to Ndigbo by the Oba of Lagos HRM Oba Rilwan Akiolu over their political choices and voting patterns in the last election, which saw the PDP doing well with Ndigbo and their preferred candidates clinching some National Assembly seats in the March 28 election.
Let me emphasise, however, that Ndigbo will not be intimidated in any part of Nigeria, not the least Lagos State where our people have contributed immensely to its development and economy. The Nigerian constitution upholds the right of every Nigerian to reside in any part of the country and National Assembly have gone further by introducing the new Section 24A in the Fourth Alteration of the 1999 Constitution to confer indigeneship on any Nigerian who has continuously resided in any State for at least 10 years. The few Federal Constituencies won by Ndigbo and their preferred candidates in Lagos State is healthy for Nigerian democracy and nationhood. We must encourage this. We must avoid the mistake of 1951 when the success recorded by Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the National Council of Nigeria Citizens, NCNC, in the election into the Western Nigeria House of Assembly was reversed on the altar of ethnicity and sectionalism. Nigeria is yet to recover from that incident and we must work hard as a nation to discourage a repeat.
I call on Ndigbo in Lagos to demonstrate a strong objection to the hate comments and threats by voting en masse for the PDP, while the security agencies are called upon to ensure that Nigerians are not only protected but also feel safe in every part of Nigeria as they exercise their franchise in the April 11 elections. The Oba must be reminded that we know whom to hold responsible if the witch cried at night and the child dies in the morning. Besides, I expect his Majesty as a former member of the police top echelon to understand that the International Criminal Court, ICC, is ever ready to address the consequences of such statements. Leaders should promote unity, not fragmentation that has been a clog in the wheel of our progress.
The Yoruba and indeed Nigerians of all ethnic groups are cordially invited to vie for any political positions of their choice in any part of Igbo land. We must encourage national unity by reenacting the good old days when Altine Umoru and Bashorun Balogun were appointed the Mayors of Enugu and Port Harcourt, respectively in the major cities of the defunct Eastern Region by the NCNC government in the First Republic. We commend Governor Babatunde Fashola for appointing Igbo into his cabinet and commend other governors like him who also appointed people other than people of their state into their cabinet. Indeed, given the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos State, we look forward to a day an Igbo, Hausa/Fulani, Ibibio, etc. would emerge governor of the State and other such cosmopolitan states in the federation. That is the spirit of democracy and national unity.
April 11 Governorship and House of Assembly Elections:
PDP remains our best platform for actualising the gains and promises that democracy holds. I wish to call upon Ndi Enugu and Ndigbo in general to come out en masse to vote for the PDP in the April 11, 2015 governorship and House of Assembly elections in whatever part of the country they find themselves. Nigeria belongs to all of us. No one will molest anybody. Let us stand up to be counted. We must not fear to vote and we most not vote in fear”.
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