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Originally posted by chiboy:
I am telling Ndigbo, if we don't intensify our struggle for freedom we would be reduced to semi human in no distant time. This is the time to make haste.

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Afenifere style
Community Resolve

Below is a verbatim reproduction of a written debrief of an attendant at the said meeting. Make your own mind up about its authenticity. Happy reading!
The meeting started at about 1.23pm on 29th of September of 2001 at the ORANMIYAN HALL OF THE LAGOS AIRPORT HOTEL, IKEJA. Opening prayer was said by Bishop Abolanle Gbonigi who thanked God tremendously for bringing in Obasanjo as Nigeria’s President.

Chief Abraham Adesanya stood to speak and was given a sound praise by Chief Ayo Adebanjo and ended the praise as Oko Soja that is husband of soldiers. Pa Adesanya who stressed seriously on General Mohammadu Buhari as a very dangerous northerner and somebody that must be clipped quickly by all means available by Obasanjo and the assistance of the US Government. Papa further stressed that he has received very reliable reports that the US Government has finalised of how best to tackle the Nigerian political economy and security affairs, saying that General M Buhari among others in the north remain a very dangerous citizen of Nigeria. He then assured that the Christians in the north must not exercise any fear because Nigeria is home for everybody. At a point he assured all present that Obasanjo should not be regarded as enemy of Yorubas anymore because, he Adesanya has discussed extensively with the President on many occasions. He also said that Obasanjo’s plans are major to what everyone present at the meeting has in mind, stressing that the President must pretend to be friendly with Babangida and Abubakar or else the government of the day will collapse, and shouts of ko sio kan to masele. Ko ko gbogbo won si ati mole, that is nothing will happen, what will they do, are they more than Nigeria? The President should lock them up. And Bishop Gbonigi cooled the atmosphere again and Papa continued as saying that the President is highly worried about General Buhari’s continuous call for sharia and that the military might strike anytime because Buhari means a lot in the north, but because of his natural quietness most people in Nigeria don’t see him as dangerous but he is. And all of a sudden Chief Gani Fawehenmi who looked very serious at the meeting jumped into Papa’s address and said who is General Abubakar, who is General Babangida by the way, and said he has occasionally written and told Obasanjo to clip these three men and Chief Fawehinmi said Papa, referring to Adesanya, I am adding more to the respect I have for you because you have told us the truth about Obasanjo’s position on these three generals, because he, Obasanjo told me the same thing and Chief Fawehinmi vowed that neither Babangida or any northerner will get to the Presidency in the next 40 (forty) years except God destines. But that he is sure that God won’t allow the Hausa-Fulani, middle-belt or whatever that they call themselves to get there.

Well, Papa I am sorry for cutting your address, you may continue sir and I’ll speak after. Everyone looked at Gani with respect. Obasanjo should have made have appointed him as Justice Minister instead of Bola Ige muttered by Bishop Gbonigi. Pa Adesanya thank Gani and of course expressed surprise that he never believed Fawehinmi could……………………..ion. Papa further assured that 2003 Presidential Election will have Obasanjo as winner and that the plan is to be patient and face out those considered as obstacles to Obasanjo, because if people like Buhari, Abubakar and IBB are detained now, then democracy will collapse and you must agree with me that if there is a coup today staged by northern power brokers, the US government will only announce dirty sanctions. Once the military government protects US Business Community interest, we will start all over again. This time the north will have all their sons and daughters in every nook and corner of the new democratic government, that is if the military government gets out on time. And the audience became provoked again with Papa: why do you fear these people? Coup can never come again in Nigeria, then Chief Adebanjo and Bishop Gbonigi with Fawehinmi said everyone present doesn’t know what northern Nigeria is all about, and Adebanjo said, once these people meet together with their Emirs and a decision is taking, that is final.

Chief Adesanya who wore a light brown buba, sokoto and agbada, black slippers and fitted aso-oke cap to match and butter embroidery remained unruffled with the tension brewed up in the hall. He confidently said the meeting will end well and meaningful confidence will be passed to Obasanjo over the secret communiqué. Papa who commented over the Jos crisis said that the President and the IG and of course DG-SSS are working secretly without the knowledge of the NSA over the Zamfara State Governor, General Buhari, IBB and Abubakar and at the end the Yorubas will embrace Obasanjo, and he sat down looking tired after standing for long, and the greets of e seun sir rented the air that is thank you sir.

Chief Gani Fawehinmi raised his hand up and he was granted to speak. He was dressed in white linen buba and sokoto with a velvet navy blue material used as cap to match in a half shoe designer inscribed with a metal logo on the shoe front, and was sighted by Papa Adesanya who jokingly said the shoe must have come from the US friends or Canadian friends of Fawehinmi and Gani laughed at the meeting for the first time and confirmed that the shoe was presented to him by Mr. Kola Abiola at the reception of his SAN public reception held at GRA Ikeja Lagos. And nearly everyone said no wonder. In his words further, Fawehinmi said he has reliably heard that Pa Adesanya is close to Gen Abubakar and that it is a very dangerous game for the south west and that he doesn’t care if anyone at the meeting goes to tell Gen Abubakar of his comments on him, thereby making everyone to look around at each other, and he continued by tongue-lashing Obasanjo as one of the worst Presidents Nigeria and African Regions has ever produced, stating clearly that Abacha is far better than Obasanjo and that General Buhari and others are far better than Obasanjo and said that despite the fact that most of the northern leaders are corrupt and very scandalous. But they have not collaborated enough like Obasanjo who had doled out the more economic gains of Nigeria to the white people and leaving ordinary man on the street to be starving while Obasanjo keeps travelling here and there like a child who has never boarded an aircraft before, stressing that Gen. Buhari government left dollar at almost nothing to Naira. Babangida left the dollar after much fraud at the stand of less than N50 fifty Naira, and Gen Abacha who was never opportuned to travel anywhere in the world apart from his few African States where the head of governments there are his personal friends, Abacha left dollar between …… and N80 and here comes a Yoruba man who claims to have vast knowledge of world economy and commerce, under his nose dollar kept rising and Naira is N135 or little less, is it a disgrace, these past three military heads of government had limited foreign economic ties and places of travel, but Obasanjo who keeps visiting one place or the other has everything in shambles. At any rate we must keep Babangida out of political governance in Nigeria permanently. The only thing that will make me embrace Obasanjo is for him to keep Buhari to shut up and then trial IBB and Abubakar.

Abacha boys are facing theirs already but lots of hidden issues are not addressed, why? And Obasanjo claims to be fighting corruption, look don’t let us deceive ourselves there will be coup in Nigeria very soon and do not care if Obasanjo if Obasanjo won’t like such a statement. No one could talk when Fawehinmi spoke about coup, not even an interruption, everyone just kept mute attentively. Obasanjo is no longer needed in government and the north can not tolerate him any longer. Fawehenmi who said he doesn’t run an intelligence network and neither has anyone told him about coup, but stressed that the writings are on the wall already, if anyone can monitor the political affairs of Nigeria since 1999. Though the worst democratic government is better than the best military rule, but those who kept Obasanjo in power will remove him from office. It is not something of distant time, but very soon and I pray God to grant the prayer of the new military government, just for Obasanjo to go: he is very rude, arrogant and behaving as if he is the messiah of Nigeria.

The manner of co-operation in the north on political matters is 100% but the Yoruba will not co-operate, you all have northern friends and myself, but I don’t betray, it is normal to have friends from anywhere but I won’t leave this meeting to go and reveal what we have discussed here. If anyone here reveals our discussions to your northern friends, the meaning is that they will get prepared and no plan will catch them unawares. Though I am a Muslim but the issue is of sharia law is just to destabilise the nation, and Obasanjo, IG and SSS DG are aware of those behind it. What are they waiting for, if Obasanjo waits for elections to get closer or to be over before keeping Buhari, IBB and Co. in the cooler, they will outsmart him, then trouble will come because these people are more influential than Obasanjo anywhere and even among Yorubas.

May God punish Obasanjo for sitting down and doing nothing about the plight of the masses. If the CIA, FBI, US Security Council and Oval Office in Washington DC are serious about giving Obasanjo all the security backings after detaining Buhari, IBB and Abubakar at the eve of the coming elections, they must act quickly or else they’ll outsmart Obasanjo. Babangida is EVIL TO THE CORE, I mean the Chief priest of evil and then there was general laughter. It took time before silence was maintained again.

Look at what Abacha’s CSO and Co. are facing now, AL Mustapha is another junior evil and very intelligent. If we must be very sincere- May her gentle soul rest in peace but the late Kudirat Abiola went too far with Abacha government, it is a big sacrifice but most of you in NADECO and Afenifere pushed her to do all she did against Abacha government, it is not easy to confront a military government in Nigeria for that matter. Kudi Abiola was just doing things without guidance and people like Wole Soyinka kept extorting her from abroad and causing more problems to our struggles. Is it not time that Soyinka was planning arms struggle against Abacha regime, but he stayed abroad. Those of us in Nigeria, do we have two heads, you see I want us to identify those who are actually doing things for Nigeria’s glory and not for our pocket. All the allegations put against Wole Soyinka could be true in the Abacha days because, he is the type of person and he kept signing for dollars and Kudi died – all of a sudden there was a very big distraction from Chief Ayo Opadokun who demonstrated his annoyance openly against Fawehinmi on Wole Soyinka saying that allegation against Soyinka by Abacha government were false, and nearly everyone with one voice implored Chief Opadokun to please allow Fawehenmi to finish, bearing in mind, that the meeting could end up in chaos and Fawehinmi continued. Opadokun who wanted to sit down got signal from Chief Adesanya that he should please be calm and bear in mind that they are trying to warm Fawehenmi into their camp and all of a sudden, Fawehinmi’s mobile phone rang and Bishop Gbonigi joked that the call must be from George W. Bush and everyone, laughed again and the tension got eased. The call came from Mr. Kola Abiola whom Fawehinmi pleaded with to allow he Fawehinmi tophone back and Fawehinmi wrote down a number as 4970456 which probably Kola quoted because Gani said, you just remain by the phone for 7pm, and probably Kola said it will be prayer time the, because Gani also said Oh it will be time for prayer then and said okay I’ll call by 9pm exactly.

Chief Fawehinmi then continued that he’ll suggest to Papa Adesanya in his next meeting with Obasanjo to pressurise he Obasanjo not to waste time with Buhari, IBB, Abubakar matter. Gani stressed that he cannot understand which way Buhari is heading. Is Buhari fighting for the Abachas or what, or he is aligning with IBB and Abubakar. Lets I forget my good friend MARK TOMILINSON world bank official in Nigeria Sometime ago assured me that Mrs Abacha will soon be arrested because Washington is really disturbed by her continuous freedom, she has knowledge of where more of Abacha’s money are kept and her detention will frustrate her to reveal more information in that regard, moreso I don’t see anything meaningful with Obasanjo waiting to win his second term election before putting Buhari, IBB and Abubakar and the Security Chiefs who served under them in the cooler, it is a dangerous game. If Babangida gets to find out or, Buhari who has reaped enough from the PTF can sponsor anything to wipe out this government and my own is to continue to criticise any government that fails to perform. Look we have been meeting and meeting all the time and yet Nigeria is not moving forward. Through I had to assist Newswatch and many issues at the OPUTA PANEL but I put it clear to you all today, that the panel is just rubbish and a waste of time.

Chief Obasanjo is just demonstrating a callous style and cantankerous actions by appearing at Oputa, Obasanjo is just pushing efforts underground by using Oputa to drag IBB, Buhari and Abubakar names in the mud so that they won’t be valued for any political office and for Abubakar not to enjoy any privilege anymore from the International Community as head of state who handed power to a democratically elected government. Obasanjo wants the glory to be bestowed on him only continuously, as he is always jealous of any Nigerian who attempt or makes history in line with that of Obasanjo.

As for me, I am predicting one more coup in Nigeria and the military government will spend not less than five (5) years before allowing democratic elections, meanwhile they must have cleansed so many things because they won’t want to mess up again bearing in mind that their predecessors have messed up in the past and I can bet anyone here that they’ll perform very well. I put it to you all once again that the worst democratic rule is batter than the best military rule but so many things in Nigeria needs predominal force to take order. The shouts of no! no! no! rented the air, and Bishop Gbonigi said Fawehinmi’s predictions will come to past and that God had shown he himself this upcoming events but he kept it to himself saying that though he doesn’t know when Fawehinmi became a prophet and gani sat down with a heavy round of applause, which greeted him and Chief Ayo Opadokun raised up his hand totalk and was granted. Meanwhile Otunba Onasanya, Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Olabiyi Durojaiye walked out to the hall passage to discuss secretly and Gani Fawehinmi refused to shake Tinubu, when he stretched his hand for a shake while passing gani, Tinubu who siled brightly un-offended shook his head as saying Ore de ni wa tele O meaning Ah we were very good friends before O and God knows my offence and Gani responded as Iwo, wa ki owo bo ina leko yi, meaning Tinubu will put his hand in fire in this Lagos. And everyone laughed urging Fawehinmi to embrace Tinubu, Gani who was surprised about people’s verdict said Oh so you people actually convinced down here to resolve with Tinubu, I see, then he also smiled and shook hands with Professor Bolaji Akinyemi.

Meanwhile Chief Ayo Opadokun did not stop talking but expressed his feelings as to why each time Fawehinmi is talking everyone’s attention will be diverted stressing that we aren’t here to watch Fawehinmi and Pa Adesanya quickly signal Gani, not to be bothered. Opadokun said that the insinuation that Papa Adesanya is close to Abubakar can only be confirmed by Papa himself and no one should see that as a betrayal of the Yoruba and that, they all agreed with certain US Security Agents that Papa should pretend to be nice to Abubakar and some core northerners so that we are not in the dark about the plans of the north and you can all see that Papa’s pretence relationship with some key northerners is helping us, please the issue of coup must not come up in this meeting anymore, I mean how can men of our status sit down here to discuss coup when we expected the military to correct so many things in Nigeria by using force. Rather they were using guns and power by force to enrich themselves and Gani sprang up to say are you civilians not enriching yourselves like the military now, you Opadokun how many millions have you made since 1999, and don’t you know the influence you gain and the money you make each time Obasanjo sends you secretly to US to deliver messages and documents, are you a government official, or security chief, why must Obasanjo use our money to finance you abroad, that is meant to be NSA, SSS or NIA jobs you are doing. And Gani sat down again but before Opadokun could regain on Gani’s revelation, there was a kind joyous noise outside as to the arrival of someone and the person of Pa Anthony Enahoro was escorted by Tinubu and others outside, then a standing ovation was observed as Fawehinmi prostrated to Chief Enahoro saying Papa has come. Enahoro who smiled like a wedding bride expressed his joy with Gani’s appearance and Gani said Papa But I don’t like your joining Obasanjo’s camp and Enahoro said I’ll tell you why before I leave and everyone sat down again, then Opadokun continued. You are delightly welcomed sir said Opadokun to Pa Enahoro and Enahoro responded – thank you – he then continued that like he was before Pa Enahoro arrival this meeting has been secretly convened and I can assure anyone here that, the calibre of we here, I don’t think anything said here will be revealed outside except relayed to the President through appropriate channels. The northern Nigeria has done enough damage to Nigeria and mostly Yorubas, our illustrious sons and daughters have died of one cause or another and I am of the opinion that south west should maintain the Presidency for an unpredictable period of lengthy time through vote, the issue of coup will be no more in Nigeria.

And if anyone here will listen, Gen Obasanjo is never afraid of Buhari, IBB or Abubakar, they are too junior to him. Though they constitute enough influence and financial power in Nigeria but, the president has to cripple their boys first before descending on them or else they’ll have people to fight for them. For example, the issue of Al Mustapha and Co. will never be pardoned, the law must take its cause and all Obasanjo has been doing is to use delay tactics and everything said at OPUTA PANEL will be used against everyone of them at the law courts. If anyone denies anything, it will be referred to evidences produced and given at the panel, that is the strategy.

I am not here to speak for the President but to the best of my knowledge, the north will crawl to gain back political power in Nigeria, their Emirs are gradually losing grip of political power in Nigeria unlike before where if any letter is sent by emir from the north to the President, minister or parastatals, it is honoured without delay, such things cannot work again, because we are no slaves. How many Obas can send letter to the President, Minister or Armed Department of the military and it is honoured except with the co-backing of a northern big-wig or link. We do the schooling, crack our brains, struggle for survival and labour to high extent and the same north will embezzle the resources. Why? Why? These are issues we need to discuss here and not coup. By now, a Yorubaman, Deltaman, Calabarman should be heading the customs, army etc. If we must balance the equation and progress, I thank you and he sat down. Yes, yes he has points, but I believe most of his point have being cleared in the June 11th 2001 meeting. Anyway, proper clutches will be used to make the changes firm said Pa Enahoro. This time Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu rose up and there was silence everywhere, Tinubu clad in blue polo shirt and jeans trouser and white face cap written LAGOS at the front enjoined everyone with co-operation and greetings stressing that, he keeps wondering when there will be no more hatred and disloyalty amongst the south-westerns of Nigeria, adding more to Fawehinmi’s claims that, the co-operation amongst the northerners has no bound.

If there is a coup today in Nigeria, he started, and we investigate very well, you’ll find the hands of our illustrious sons deeply involved. The Hausa-Fulani-Gwari or middle-belt will nto stage a coup alone. And more over I believe that the era of military rule is over except by our carelessness and unfaithfulness. We will cripple the coup godfathers in Nigeria and their boys will run elter skelter. But before we cripple others, have we sanitised our homes. I mean we must stop fighting each other and stop back-biting or spying on each other for evil.And before I forget my very good elder brother in Ogun state Chief Olusegun Osoba called me on the phone to please assist him to convey it to you all about being unavoidably absent and promised to be present at the Ijebu meeting because he had unscheduled agendas to attend to which may result to crisis in his state if he is not physically noticed. The state of Obasanjo is now very serious as we must all pray hard for this administration to survive because, we are faced with different security threats. Though the US agents are in good touch with the president but we must be vigilant. Our children must stand on their feet and look straight into the eyes of their northern counterparts without fear. We must continue to carry on with who’s who in the north while we know very well where we are paddling our canoe to, as we cannot operate or remain in power by isolation.

Any south-west group can associate or merge with the northern group but we’ll pull out at the eve of events, if we don’t do it that way, we’ll be short of informations and their plans. Lets operate like our forefathers, because if power shifts back to the north, in the next 50 years we won’t smell it except by destiny. It’s a pity that Papa Enahoro is getting aged now it would have been a bowl of interest to have him as the President of Nigeria. My good brothers and fathers, I’ll want us to deliberate on how the north will not come back to power by 2003 or 2007 because they are not sleeping too and I believe they have more strategy than ours, though the power of incumbency is of advantage but then lets embrace each other to move forward and not to forget to leave room for criticism. Chief A. Enahoro who rose to speak but was quickly asked to sit down and speak to everyone as elderly statesman and thereafter ushered a chair at high table before he continued in his words. My children and my brothers, Papa started, we must be tolerant with each other and I believe everyone here is a Yoruba man except myself being partly Yoruba and nearly all my life experience has to do with the Yoruba people so lets be one. If my joining Obasanjo camp doesn’t augur well with some of you, don’t be offended, before now I had developed anything more than 100% hatred for Obasanjo but with the development at the OPUTA PANEL and the promise he gave to me concerning the north and past military leaders I think there is a cause to embrace him. Let us wait and see what will happen in 2003, it is then that we’ll all appreciate him as President.

IBB or whoever won’t come to rule this nation again and the Unity of Nigeria must be fought for with everything we have. Very soon, Mrs Maryam Abacha, Buhari, IBB, Abubakar, Gen Halilu Akilu, Aikhomu and very many others will move to jail even though many of the Abacha’s penalty won’t match with others, but nearly every penny and property of theirs will be confiscated. I can be quoted secretly. You all are shouting coup! coup! coup!, it’s a pity. That it may come and it may not come, but loopholes will be filled. The President is concluding his own plans and I can tell you that very soon tto, the NSA and service chiefs will bow out of government and Chief of staff. Then business starts. And if he slacks, he has himself 6to blame.

I join the US Secret service office opinion that Buhari & Co that is former Heads of State be arrested to save Nigeria or else we are heading for another military rule and by the time they conduct elections, they will hand over to a northerner and God will nearly come down in person before we shift power back to our side. Our last deliberation with Obasanjo on the eve of the 41st Independence Anniversary shows that the northern purge is closer. Our people must be oriented about living in harmony, avoiding religious crises, violence of any form and co-operation to produce leaders as per able governance.

I am not too fit healthwise, but I am here to make sure that there is progress and the fact that Adesanya or Afenifere is embracing key or certain people in the north, I repeat is a ploy to know how far the north is going and not betrayal. Gen Obasanjo is aware of everything he Adesanya does in the north. The north will beg for nearly everything they want to do, you all must watch and see, though Nigeria belongs to we all but, the number of years their leaders have wasted must be shown to them in a turbulent way. We will grip the armed forces, security departments, economic nerve and keep the country going. While he spoke, one of his aides came into the hall to whisper to him that the President is on line and Papa went to the extreme end of the hall to talk, at this juncture, different meals were served as menu and the meeting was quite rowdy, as more meaningful people thronged the venue including the arrival of Major Ishola Williams, Lt Gen Alani Akinrinade, General Adeyinka Adebayo,Major General Emmanuel Abisoye, Mrs Ayo Obe, Dr. Beko Ransome Kuti, Gen Benjamin Adekunle. By the time Pa Enahoro finished with Obasanjo on the phone, his speech had been taking over by the MENU and he warmly greeted Gen Adebayo & Co. who arrived together and the arrival of Major Gen David Jemibewon was noticed to and Fawehinmi who declined to eat or drink anything murmured, these are the people who ruined Nigeria and why are they arriving together along the time Obasanjo called Papa on the phone. You see why I didn’t want to come here. They always regard themselves as superior to civilians, who are they. This time Gen Adebayo stood up quickly to greet Fawehinmi who eventually smiled to say I hope you people have not come to spy. Then black scorpion – Adekunle said Abo yo, that is are you drunk to Gani. We are with you firmly any decision you take must be carried out and we are watching Obasanjo this time around. He mustn’t fumble. We know our mistakes and we are addressing them very well. Well, I hope so said Fawehinmi. Chief Fawehinmi was later persuaded by Pa Enahoro to take fruit salad, Fawehinmi who kept pressurising Papa to know what the President discussed with him said, what good has that man told you papa, don’t let him fool you, until we see him do all those things, I won’t believe him. The meal stopped at 5.27 pm and almost tidying up to round up, though I can’t remember much again but Papa Enahoro wore a white guinea brocade and light grey Awo cap to match and black slippers. Gen Adeyinka Adebayo wore a blue flowing agbada slippers, Gen Emmanuel Abisoye wore a cream coloured agbada and half sandal to match while Gen Ishola Williams and Gen Akinrinade wore the same guinea brown brocade buba and sokoto and same cap but different caps to match, Gen Jemibewon wore a Senegalese caftan navy blue with white embroidery and slippers. Mrs Ayo Obe who was dressed in a mini-skirt and blouse designers to match had Gen Aknirinade gazing at her and was cautioned by Jemibewon jokingly as eru agba lomo yen, that the girl is an elder’s load, can you carry it. Akinrinade replied as omo mi ni that is she is my daughter. Ah na lie said Jemibewon, and at this juncture Bishop Gbonigi was urging for closing remarks and prayer after the brief speech of everyone, like I said I can’t remember all that were said at the meeting which was a very lengthy meeting and ended at 6.30 pm and Professor Akinyemi told Papa Adesanya and Pa Enahoro that THE LORD LEVENE OF PORTSOKEN – KBE OF ENGLAND AT THE MANSION IN LONDON has agreed to assist Obasanjo by pressurising the Bishop of Canterbury, London TO CANVASS SUPPORT FOR OBASANJO against northern Nigeria before the BRITISH QUEEN AND PRIME MINSITER AND WROTE DOWN HIS PHONE NUMBER AND FAX AS 0171 6262500 AND 0171 6239521 WERE COPY DOWN BY MOST CONCERNED IN THIS AREA AS A VERY SERIOUS INSTRUMENT FOR OBASANJO as Bishop Gbonigi was hurrying back to Akure with closing prayer for him.

NB: A traditional oath was seriously observed and declined by only Gbonigi as a priest and one other person who claimed to be fasting, so as to keep details secret bearing in mind that some people present might leak the meeting.

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Daily Independent Online.
Friday, March 28, 2003.

'Ojukwu deserves Igbo support'

By Ejike Agwulonu,
Lagos

A call has gone to all Igbo people at home and in diaspora to support the candidacy and political aspiration of the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.

Making this call in Lagos, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, Mr. Metche Nnadiekwe, said, "Ikemba is a man you know, who can die for the Igbo cause, the man should be supported, even if he doesn't win, but let the awareness be created," he advised.

Castigating the Igbos for their overbearing independence of mind, he said the Igbo should not believe much in the republican spirit of every man for himself, stressing it was time to recognise those who championed the cause when it mattered most, and accord them a deserved support and recognition.

According to him, "Ojukwu fits into this position now."

Chief Nnadiekwe, who is the president of Berger Motor Dealers Association, Lagos said he enjoyed the politics of justice and fair play, but decried the situation where the federal government seemed to have abandoned the South East.

"Across the Niger, to the East, is a different country altogether, no road, no light, no security of lives or property and what have you," he lamented.

He said the PDP federal government ought to look into these problems before expecting to make a serious impact at the April 19 general elections.

Chief Nnadiekwe who echoed that the generality of Nigerian masses had been suffering said the country needed a humane government, which would execute people oriented programmes.

He expressed satisfaction with the performances of the incumbent Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Lagos State in the last four years, saying, however, "there is much room for improvement."

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