Ahead of the May 28 presidential primary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, four aspirants of South-East extraction have resolved to champion a common cause that could see them present a consensus pick for the exercise.
The aspirants- former Senate President, Pius Anyim; ex-Anambra State governor, Peter Obi; former President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigerian, PSN, Sam Ohuabunwa and a medical doctor-turned politician, Nwachukwu Anakwenze – disclosed this in Abuja yesterday, in a communique signed by all four and read by Anyim.
“We have agreed to work together as a team. We will work together to ensure that a South Easterner emerges as the PDP flag bearer. We intend to consult with other zones on this issue and it is based on fairness and equity .
“In doing so, it is important to note that we have always supported other zones and we now expect them to reciprocate,” the communique read in part.
On what the move portends for the region given the position earlier taken by Southern governors elected on the platform of the PDP, Anyim said: “When we get to the bridge, we will cross it. But we will work together in the interest of the party, the nation, and that of the South-East.
On why there was no governor from the geo-political zone at the meeting, the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation added: “Maybe the question should go to South-East governors forum, not to us. Whatever they are doing or whatever they are not doing is not necessarily before us. So when you meet them in their meeting, you can ask them.
“If our position tallies with that of the Southern governors, good luck. But we are taking this position in the interest of national unity, in the interest of PDP, and in line with the PDP constitution. We believe that the PDP constitution favours what we are doing and we have to boldly step out with this decision”.
Meanwhile, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has hinted at the possibility of presidential aspirants from the South East presenting a consensus candidate.
Ohuabunwa who was reacting to the alleged decision of the PDP’s Gov. Samuel Ortom zoning committee to throw the party’s presidential ticket open, reminded the main opposition party of the grave implications of the decision.
Asked if presidential aspirants of the party from South East were mulling the idea of producing a consensus as part of strategies to ensure the ticket did not elude the zone, the former PSN president, said such an option was not out on the table.
He explained that aspirants from the South-East would employ every strategy to ensure that the next president of Nigeria emerged from the zone.
Similarly, former Minister of Defense and immediate-past National Organising Secretary of the PDP, Col. Austin Akobundu (retd.), also disclosed that the leadership of the party in the zone was in serious consultations with stakeholders from other geopolitical zones to concede the presidential slot to the South East.
VANGUARD
