Ahead of the 2023 General elections, a group, Advocate for Collective Transformation (ACT) has commended the leader of Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, for drumming support for Southeastern presidency.
Prince Tolu Ajayi, the Director General of ACT stated this in a statement issued in Abeokuta on Tuesday.
Ajayi explained that Adebanjo’s stand was not only commendable but a true reflection of the concept of unity in diversity.
He noted that the group would throw her weight behind Pa Adebanjo for standing for the truth and unity of the country.
He urged any other aspirant from other regions aside Southeast and North central to step aside for now till after 2023.
“Pa Ayo Adebanjo has acted in the spirit of a true statesman, upholding the principle of unity, equity and fairness not minding if this affects his root.
“We appreciate and respect the opinion of those from our region southwest, whom have shown desired interest in the 2023 presidency but we plead with them to follow the path of our leader, Pa Adebanjo and allow either the southeast or north central to take over as a mark of the strength in the unity of our diversity.
” Without any iota of deceit, Nigeria has six geopolitical zones in which southeast is one, the southeast is made up of the Igbo extraction which is a major tribe in the country but unfortunately, this tribe has been denied many opportunities in the country since the post civil war era. A region and tribe that lost many lives to civil war and yet, schemed out of national opportunities maybe as a payback by some elements.
“The present agitation for self determination by some youths of Igbo extraction was due to many years of neglect. IPOB was created to demand for the proper inclusion of the Igbos in the Nigeria nation. An agitation that should prompt the government to call for national conference to address the plight and demand of the people but rather termed an act of terrorism. IPOB agitation isn’t about cessation as it seems but about having a fair share of governance which to us isn’t a bad idea.
“It should be noted that both the southeast and north central are the regions that have not produced the president since 1999. The call by Pa Ayo Adebanjo for Igbo presidency from the southeast should be made to include the north central as well. We can’t be crying for peace and leave out the call for justice. Only a just society experience true peace.
