A Peoples Democratic Party stalwart, Chief Arthur Eze, on Monday called on the people of the South- East to forget its agitation to produce the President in 2015 and support President Goodluck Jonathan to run for a second term.
Eze spoke at Ukpo, Dunukofia Local Government of Anambra State, where he registered as a member of the PDP in the fresh registration of party members.
Similarly, the Anambra State chapter of the PDP has urged Jonathan to run for the 2015 presidential election, saying the party in the state would support him.
Eze, in company with a former Nigerian Ambassador to Austria, Dr. Jerry Ugokwe, and members of the PDP Harmonisation Committee in the state, said the South- West had completed its eight-year tenure under former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
He said the turn of the South-East would come after Jonathan would have completed his second term and the north would have had a chance at it.
Eze, who urged the people of the South-East to accept this reality, explained that his appeal would help in saving the country from future political turmoil.
He blamed the intractable crises in the state branch of the PDP on self-serving individuals, who over the years had considered their personal interests above the interest of the state.
Eze said, “I do not feel happy seeing my state always in the news because of PDP crisis. I found out that those causing the confusion are the power-drunk individuals.
“We must be very careful on whatever we do; we should support President Jonathan in his mission because for now, he is the only person who can tackle the problem of Ndigbo. Our people are very difficult to lead.
“The people of Anambra and indeed Nigeria need peace. There is need to love one another, we should live in peace instead of all these troubles everywhere. God loves this country, our people are just fighting for selfish interests.”
He commended Kenneth Emeakayi-led executive for working for peace in the state PDP, saying it was the beginning of good things to come to the party.
Meanwhile, a former National Action Council presidential candidate, Dr. Olapade Agoro, has said Jonathan’s ambition to re-contest in 2015 is distracting him.
Agoro said this while addressing reporters in Ibadan on Monday.
He said, “Obviously, Jonathan’s 2015 ambition is heating up the polity beyond what the nation can bear.
“The 2015 ambition of the President makes him to close his eyes to several acts of corruption and wrong doings in high places in the country so as not to step on toes of perceived powerful individuals.
“The president is blinded by ambition. In effect, this is crippling the national economy to an unimaginable level.
“The situation on ground now, sentiments apart, is terribly on minus. The fact that nothing socially, economically and politically is moving in the spheres of development is indicative that Nigeria is dangerously sliding towards anarchy.
“Nigeria’s economy is developing without progress. This is making things worse. Jonathan is obviously managing the worse economic scenario we have ever known in Nigeria.
“Democracy, as good as it is, is being marred by wanton corruption, lies and covers up, all attracting insecurity and threat to our corporate existence.”
To address the situation, Agoro called for a general clean-up in the polity. “There must be a surgical operation, however painful it would be for Nigeria to be saved from the impending implosion,” he said.
