Penultimate Friday, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, picked former Anambra Governor, Peter Obi, as is running mate in the all-important presidential election of 2019.
Expectedly, that choice did also attract some opposition from some South East PDP leaders who felt that they were not consulted by Atiku before taking the decision. The leaders, who met in Enugu, said they only heard about Obi’s choice in the social media and felt slighted by the PDP presidential candidate.
The chairman of the South East Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief David Umahi, who addressed newsmen after the meeting, however, said that Abubakar will meet with South East leaders over the choice of his running mate. Umahi said that Abubakar sent in message during their emergency meeting informing them that he was out of the country on a short period and pleaded with them to remain calm that he will be coming down to the zone to dialogue with leaders.
The meeting was attended by governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Okezie Ikpeazu and Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Senators Sam Egwu, Theodore Orji and other members of the National Assembly from the zone and other major stakeholders.
How these leaders came together in less than 24 hours after the news of the previous day, speaks a lot of how much importance they attach to their personal interests. If only that much of promptness and attention is attached to the problems bedeviling the South East, the sorry state of that region would be a thing of the past.
However, speaking in Abakaliki barely one week after, Umahi while trying to debunk insinuations that he was against the choice of Obi, only ended up exposing his naked desire for attention.
Hear him: “We must sit down with the presidential candidate and say, look if we work together; we must be part of the decision making. I am not talking about myself; I am talking about the leadership of the South East.” He also disclosed that the anger was that his state, Ebonyi and Imo were schemed out on the names of those to be made Atiku’s running mate.
“Two names of nominees came from Anambra, two from Abia and one from Enugu, but none came from Ebonyi and Imo. What is wrong with somebody from Ebonyi and Imo and you must know that one of the reasons an Ebonyi man is against regions in the country is the fear of further marginalisation… Even if we would not make the list, as the choice is for Abubakar to make, we should know what disqualified us from being picked…”
As if that was not enough, the governor also said he took the position on the matter to protect his state and the entire South East from further neglect and marginalisation, describing himself as a fighter against marginalisation of Ebonyi people.
The simple interpretation against the choice of Obi by these Igbo leaders is purely selfish. And that more than anything else is what fires the pull-him-down syndrome that has over the years been the stock in trade of many a politician from the South East. When you hear them express their reservations against Atiku’s choice you will be tempted to want to check again if Atiku had chosen somebody from the south west or from the north and not an Igbo.
It is no wonder that the word marginalisation has been domesticated and patented by politicians from the south east. When they fall out of the political equation and out of the corridors of power or feel threatened, they simply put on the toga of Voltron; the defender of the universe, and begin to shout marginalisation until they are accommodated and ‘settled’.
The marginalisation of Ndigbo since after the civil war remains a scar on the nation till date. But for many of these self-centred so-called Igbo leaders, the cry of marginalisation is but a meal ticket.
It is sad to think that while the rest of the world are achieving things and excelling in all fields of human endeavours, we are still discussing zoning, quota system, federal character and other complexities that encumber our progress as a nation.
Truth is that the average Igbo man, like any other Nigerian, does not care a hoot where his leader is from. Just meet his everyday basic needs and create the environment for him to blossom. Why can’t our politicians understand this?
The choice of Atiku and his party to pick his vice presidential candidate from the south east remains a masterstroke. Since both parties had zoned their presidential tickets to the north and the APC has Yemi Osinbajo, from the south west as vice president, it then goes without saying that Atiku has little or no choice but choose his running mate from the South East.
It is disappointing to know that the choice of Peter Obi will not sit well with anybody from the east? This is a man whose achievements both in private and public spheres are there for all to see. As a former governor for two terms and achiever, Obi is by no means the equal of those who now complain of his choice.
It is because of Umahi selfishness that he pretends to relate well with President Buhari. For a man who is of an opposition party, he has always pretended as though he loves the president more than any other PDP member.
As president, Buhari deserves all the respects due his office and must not be subjected to public ridicule of whatever kind. It is also necessary to note that the respect given that office goes a long way to determine to what extent we are regarded by the outside world.
However, Umahi is only after his personal desires. By playing to be close to the president while still claiming to belong to the PDP he only seeks to enjoy the best of both worlds.
It is gratifying to know that some of those Umahi claimed to be speaking on their behalf and many Ndigbo have since expressed their satisfaction with the choice of Obi.
Governor Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Ohanaeze Ndigbo on Friday in Enugu extolled the leadership qualities of Obi.
While Governor Ugwuanyi described him as an “iconic Igbo man”, John Nnia Nwodo, President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, tagged Obi as “an incorruptible Nigerian” of very eminent qualities.
Perhaps, I should close this with an admonition by ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on this unnecessary controversy.
Jonathan had said; “I affirm that consultation is a key ingredient in every political process. Nonetheless, in the selection of a vice presidential candidate, a presidential candidate is allowed reasonable freedom to select his running mate based on loyalty, trust, experience, temperament and capacity to perform the responsibilities of the office. Anything other than this could create tension and acrimony between the presidential candidate and his running mate, even before the inauguration of the government. My plea is for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to be given a free hand to choose who he wants to work with as his Vice President without putting him through undue pressure. In this regard, only minimal consultation is required which doesn’t necessarily have to involve full regional review and approval.”
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