The Senator representing Enugu East, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani, has lamented on the continued neglect of the South-East zone in the power equation, stating that it’s sending wrong signals that the region is unwanted in the Nigerian Union.
Senator Nnamani, who stated this during a programme on Arise Television, explained that since Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Rtd) was eased out of the number two position under Military President Ibrahim Babangida, no South Easterner has been considered for either the President or Vice President.
The former Enugu State governor lamented that successive administrations at the centre have ignored and jettisoned the power equation which traditionally recognised the South-East zone as one of the legs of the tripod in the power equation of the country.
“This is the dilemma of the Igbo man. We have been shortchanged in the leadership of Nigeria. This is not the nation our progenitors negotiated for. It is against the spirit of a Nigerian union where tribes and tongues may differ but in brotherhood, we stand.
“How can we (Ndigbo) be proud to belong to a union where we cannot aspire or be considered for top positions?
”If 2023 passes without the South East being accommodated in the power arrangements, we would have to wait for the next 16 years and will be out of power reckoning for 40 years from 1999,” he said.
Nnamani said the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has a window of opportunity to correct the imbalance against the South East affirming that the zone has kept a clean slate and maintained political fidelity since 1999.
