From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
Chukwuka Utazi, who represented Enugu North senatorial zone at the National Assembly, has urged Ndigbo to serve in the All Progressives Congress (APC) for them to stand the chance of producing a president for Nigeria.
Utazi, who served as senator under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), from 2015 to 2023, after serving as commissioner for transport in Enugu State, under former governor Sullivan Chime, said this while making his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) public in Enugu on Saturday.
He said the South East could only be considered for vice presidency when power rotates to the North in 2031 and subsequently they can push for presidency when it returns to the South, but such will only be possible when the region has served in the APC.
He said: “You people are here quarrelling and getting involved in different kinds of cases for nothing and we are losing out. If you do everything and you are not at the centre, you are not gaining anything. We want to come together to get this presidency we are looking for. If we come together, we will get it.
“The only way we can get the presidency of Nigeria is by serving in APC. We have to do it now, not when it is late. When we serve in APC now and follow to the end, when the presidency rotates to the North, we expect the vice presidency to come to the South East. When it is the turn of the South, we will now start talking about the presidency.
“This is the only way we can get it. If we are here just making noise, things will be going behind us in Nigeria. This is why I decided to come and serve in APC. Let us get involved in this fight. It is not everyday you are writing what other zones have gotten in the government, are you in that government? When will we have the chance to get what is due to us, it is only when we have the presidency that we can get and make things work for our people.
“Nigeria started with three legs but today, it is standing on two legs and half. Where are Ndigbo because we were part of those who fought for this country. So, the only way to come back to the mainframe is to join APC, this is the time and I am going to join as a loyal party man,” he said.