…Says, 2023 Presidency should be zoned to the Igbo

…As ex- President Jonathan, wife, Ngige others honour him

By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

A former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Chief Osita Benjamin Chidoka has lashed out at senators who last week absented themselves from voting, as well as those who voted against the electronic results transmission clause in the Electoral Act amendment Bill, describing them as disgrace to the National Assembly.

Urging the House of Representatives to redeem the image of the assembly by listening to the voice of the people, Chidoka also advocated for a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

The former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps FRSC gave the charge at the weekend in Abuja shortly after completing a 50, 000 steps for peace in in commemoration of his 50th birthday.

While the run covered 42 kilometres, his fans and associates across the 36 states of the Federation also embarked on a 5 kilometre walk for peace and humanitarian visits to hospitals.

Speaking on the state of the nation, Chidoka said; “The nation is in a bad state. The three things for me that have put the nation in a bad state are, mismanagement of our diversity, the great divisions that we have sown in the nation, a government that has been insensitive to the multiple partd of Nigeria. I think that has made it a difficult time for every body. I don’t want to just blame the Government of the day, but I just need to say that the Nigerian elite needs to create new consensus.

“I couldn’t imagine the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria voting against the electronic transmission of results. I am not only disappointed, it is a disgrace, all those who stayed away from voting are a disgrace to their constituencies.

“All those who voted ‘No’ to electronic transmission, in a country where we do JAMB through CBT, the Passport is electronic, the drivers license is biometric and electronic, you can renew it on line. So I don’t think the Government of the day can in all honesty say that there is any part of Nigeria today where you don’t have POS people dispensing money across Nigeria, where there is no ATM dispensing money.

“The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has disgraced the National Assembly, has whittled the hopes of Nigerians and I hope that they will reverse themselves. I don’t know how that will happen but I think that the House of Representatives should please, not go the way of the Senate. I don’t think that this is good for Nigeria, it is an embarrassment in a country where foreigners are putting millions of naira in a company like Flutterwave, Paystack etc. People are coming to invest in technology in Nigeria. Nigeria is one of the biggest recipients of technology funding and what we are discussing is electronic transmission of results. I think it is a disgrace

Anambra Guber

Chidoka who holds the traditional title, “Ike Obosi” in his community also explained why he stayed away from the Governorship contest in his home state, Anambra, saying it was part of his commitment to the principle of zoning.

According to him, the time has also come for the country to respect the zoning principia in order to have a president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

He said; “Anambra has its peculiarities and I think they will resolve themselves as we progress but I did not run because I thought there was need for me to respect the zoning arrangement in Anambra State. Multiple opinion polls and talking to ordinary people in the state gave me the understanding that Anambra people will like the zoning to be respected and I decided that since I come from the zone that is not yet its turn, I should stay back.

READ ALSO: You’re not the Law, Chidoka reminds Acting IGP

“When people talk about this zoning issue it is actually a good thing in nation building. So, for the country I just believe that in 2023 the country must confront its demons and allow a Southerner to be President of Nigeria and precisely a Southerner from the South East of Nigeria. Anything short of that would mean that Nigeria has given in to cynicism, that Nigeria has given in to hopelessness and if we give in to the hopelessness and our youth continue to disconnect from the idea of Nigeria, then our future as a nation is in danger. I think we should without any prodding from anybody, just follow the natural order of our zoning in Nigeria. In the South East the zoning has led to peacefulness. Most Governorship in the South East have been rotating through the Senatorial zones and I believe Anambra will be no exception.

Speaking at a reception for Chidoka, former President Goodluck Jonathan who chaired the event, prayed for more years of trouble-free existence for his former Minister.

Jonathan also hailed Chidoka’s friends for using the occasion of his 50th birthday to embark on humanitarian missions to hospitals, stating that as small as his own state, Bayelsa is, no fewer than four hospitals benefitted from the gesture.

Speaking on behalf of friends and associates of the celebrator, Chief Ferdinand Agu noted that Chidoka had been very outstanding in all spheres, right from 1999 service year when he emerged the outstanding Corps member in the Federal Capital Territory FCT.

“He has been successful at every turn because very early in life, he prepared himself for leadership. Osita has a very great literary mind and we encourage the younger ones who want to be like him to open their minds to reading because readers are leaders and learners are scholars”, Chief Agu stated.

A thanksgiving service was earlier held at the Cathedral Church of The Advent (Anglican Communion), in Life Camp, Abuja.

Some dignitaries at the reception included President Jonathan and his wife, Patience, Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, Senators Ben Obi and Ifeanyi Ubah making a host of others.

Vanguard News Nigeria