Group to Daura: S/East must occupy Aso Villa in 2023
Group under the auspices of National Political Equity Movement, N-PEM, has insisted on South East Presidency, telling Mamman Daura that his merit recipe for 2023 Presidential candidate is half truth and unjustified.
In a statement signed by Convener of the movement, Sunday Chibuzor Okereke, the group declared that Daura’s recipe is half truth that doesn’t serve national interest, as it insisted on South-East Equity Presidency 2023.
The group noted that zoning arrangement is a wise and critical element for national stabilisation, aimed at addressing the political and structural imbalances that Nigeria is clearly built on.
“Our interactions have clearly revealed that most Nigerians, especially youths and patriotic elders from all parts of the country, have a convergent view on the desperate need for Nigeria to run a governance system that works for all, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, colour or creed.
“On the issue of statement credited to the nephew and closest confidant of President Muhammadu Buhari, Mammam Daura who opined that ‘merit and competence should be the basis for who becomes the next President of Nigeria and not where the person comes from, the movement welcomes Mamman Daura’s merit recipe for who governs Nigeria in the next round of presidential elections.
“However, the elder statesman’s position is only a half truth that not only needs to be made whole but one that lacks the ingredient of national interest and political stability,” it said.
The movement also maintained that political stakeholders and power brokers should unite and support South-East Equity Presidency 2023, adding that when merits are equal, justice and equity should prevail.
They called on Alhaji Mamman Daura to utilise his blood and close relationship to President Muhammadu Buhari and his age, to build an enduring legacy of equity and fairness in ensuring that power; not only returns to the South, as well as openly declare maximum support for South East to produce the President of Nigeria come 2023.
“We will like to go on record and state that Nigeria can only talk about merit and competence of presidential candidates after the zoning system is upheld,” it maintained.
The group also stressed that zoning does not negate the principles of merit and competence nor forecloses any Nigerian in other zones from contesting for the seat of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We recognize the zoning system to be a unique, systematic and organised political arrangement that allows key stakeholders and major political parties to zone elective positions to different geo-political zones of the country for the purpose of national unity and balance of political power in line with Nigeria’s constitution and federal character.
“We salute the courage of elder statesman – Chief Edwin Clark and other prominent Nigerians who have spoken out boldly on this issue.
“N-PEM stands on his latest call for His Excellency Chief Ahmed Bola Tinubu to declare support for South East to produce the next Nigerian president.”
