Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
A technocrat and former Anambra State governorship aspirant, Mr. John Chuma Nwosu, has called on the political leaders from the South East to jettison individual interests and work towards the common good of the people as the 2019 election draws nearer.
Nwosu, CEO of Jetlink Ltd, Lagos, spoke on Monday, from his home town, Odida Nnewichi, Nnewi, Anambra State, against the backdrop of seeming disapproval of the choice of Mr. Peter Obi as the running mate of Atiku Abubakar of the PDP by some political leaders in the South East.
He urged those raising dissenting voices to sheathe their swords and support the party’s choice.
He said the choice of Obi as Atiku’s running mate is not about Obi as a person or about the desires of some select few political leaders but about the general welfare of all Nigerians.
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Describing the choice of Obi as a ‘masterstroke and excellent political decision’ by Atiku, he recalled that in the history of Nigerian politics in any democratic dispensation, choosing a Vice President has never been by full consultation of the geopolitical zone where the VP candidate comes from but has always been the prerogative of the Presidential candidate.
“If the political leaders from the South East kicking against the choice of Obi knew what actually happened behind the scene before he emerged Atiku’s final choice, they won’t hesitate a minute to congratulate him and throw their weight fully behind the Atiku/Obi candidature because this is something the Yoruba’s fought for too.
“Peter Obi is the right choice for Ndigbo. He distinguished himself through his sterling performance as a governor for eight years and has carried on in a most dignifying manner since then.
“With him as Vice President, Nigerians will gain a lot within six months. There will be prudence in the management of our resources and the face of Peter Obi is not the face of the PDP members alone, it is the face of Nigerians as a whole.
“That Obi is from the South East doesn’t mean that he is going to be the Vice President for the South East alone, he is going to take that position for the whole Nigerians and the decision taken to pick him as Atiku’s running mate was the decision of all Nigerian PDP members not that of the South East alone.
“Every other zone wanted that position but the party looked at several postulations and settled for the South East zone and also for Obi among other names placed on the table for consideration.
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“All that the South East political leaders needed to do was to throw their total support to him and Atiku and not unnecessary division and bickering.
“This Pull Him Down Syndrome has been a serious problem of Ndigbo. Peter Obi is eminently qualified as the VP choice and from discussions and feelers from other parts of the country, Nigerians are happy with the choice of him.
“Let us not turn against our own brother; he needs our full support not this kind of clandestine meetings that are being held,” Nwosu appealed.