*Ezeife harps on resource control
By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja
Ahead of the forthcoming general election in the country, a former member of the House of Representatives and Convener/Secretary -General of National Coalition for Peace and Unity (NACOPU), Dr Cairo Ojougboh has tasked leaders of the various political parties and associations in the country to speak with their followers, particularly the youths, on the need to maintain peace before, during and after the polls.
Dr Ojougboh, who was at a time an Executive Director with the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, gave the advice on Tuesday at the inauguration of NACOPU in Abuja.
At the ceremony which was attended by former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnanani, former Governor of old Anambra State, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife and former Permanent Secretary/Ambassador Igali among others, maintained that it is imperative for the leaders begin to educate the youths and candidates who are the participants in the elections.
He specifically advised the candidates for the various political offices, especially the presidential election, to emulate what former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan did in 2015 when he accepted defeat and congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari even before the final declaration of the results of the election.
Ojougboh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, said, “We want our elders and leaders to begin to look at what is going to happen during the general election.
“We are looking at pre election, during the election and post election.
“The reason the leaders have decided to gather is to make sure that we begin to educate our youths and our leaders who are the participants in this coming elections.
“As leaders, we must advise them not to exit their followers. if leaders behave like former President Jonathan behaved, he was looking at the election, result has not even been announced and he threw in the towel, that was exceptional and after that election there was no crisis.
“If he had contested that result (of that of that election) the crisis would have started immediately and that was exemplary and that is the situation we expect.
“When this election is taking place leaders must be able to speak with their followers, the youths must be made to understand that what you see on the social media might not be actually what it should be or what will be.
“After the election we must tell leaders and their followers that if you do not have peace, if there is problem, crisis, you will not be able to to make a Governor. If you are a governor you will not be able to govern. So the need for peace is sine qua non for the existence of the country”, he said.
Speaking at the ceremony, former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani
lauded the formation of NACOPU, describing its birth at this period as very timely.
According to Nnanani, “We are going into a pivotal electoral process and the challenge will be much. A group like this should be in the position to speak up and lead with recommendations,
“I know people will disputes the results but there should be people that should advise that we should not allow two, three, five judges to determine who rules us, we should obey the outcome of the ballot box”, he said.
Also speaking, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife, who was the Chairman of the event, described Yoruba and Igbos as the worst Nigerians, because they choose enmity instead of cooperation.
According to him, “Yoruba and Igbos are the worst Nigerians, because they choose enmity instead of cooperation.
“Were they to integrate the country will be stabilize, no domination by anybody. “Of the other groups no group can analyze its long time prospect and decide to go out of Nigeria. Nigeria is our home let us amend whatever is to be amended”, he said.
Continuing, Ezeife added, “Don’t mistake, restructuring for resource allocation, some people in the north are saying if there is restructuring, there will be no oil money to be shared. Political things have to be done politically, Restructuring is what we need”, he stressed
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
