It is most unfortunate that our father and sage, Chief E.K Clark and patrons of some socio-cultural groups have decided to condemn our amiable Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa over his nomination as the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Candidate.This is most unfortunate.Those who signed the statement are almost a hundred years old and surely belong to different generations ago. We can not be preaching hate and bitterness and expect to have a progressive society.These fathers of ours who have already collected their boarding passes and awaiting glorious departure can not be preaching disintegration of the Country that benefitted them so much in their years of yore and we sheepishly follow them.Socio-cultural groups can not determine political issues as best they are pressure groups that tend to shape the mode of thought and should never descend into the era, there roles at best advisory should the decide to be statesmen of honour and builders of our commonwealth. Did these socio-cultural groups consult before they publish their self-serving resolutions? We still recollect the days of South South People Assembly struggle, were the mandate of all the ethnic groups in the SouthSouth was gotten to meet the Elders and Leaders of all the other geopolitical zones in Nigeria, through series of intergeopolitical summits that produced common communiques. We signed agreements with all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria and met with the leading political parties in Nige-
ria. SouthSouth was allowed to produce the Vice president of Nigeria in the PDP as a result of this effort and subsequently became President. It was never by threats, intimidation and bullying Nigerians.
Nigerians recall our very amiable, disciplined, respectful Dr. Peter Odili in the run up to the PDP Presidential Primaries of 2006!!!
Those clamouring for the disintegration of Nigeria should please let those of us who want Nigeria pursue our collective good based on social inclusiveness . We are in a precarious time and it is expected that everyone must make sacrifices to add to the building blocks of a united Nigeria of One People, One Nation, One Country. It is undeniable that Nigeria requires surgical restructuring in all aspects of human endeavours and Waziri Atiku Abubakar and Ifeanyi Okowa have the credentials and are poised to rescue Nigeria. Nigerians both young and old, women and men let us all join hands to support the Atiku/Okowa emergence.We wish those who are waiting for their flight, safe flight when they are called and we hope that they would resist the temptation of sowing seeds of discord for the succeeding generations.
Signed:
Amb Victor Udoh
President General Coalition of Niger Delta Ethnic Nationalities Youth leaders.
