Governors of the southeast zone have asked all the political parties in the country to pick their 2023 presidential candidates from the zone.
The chairman of the Southeast Governors Forum and governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, made the call on Friday, during a prayer summit organised by the state government at Ecumenical centre, Abakaliki.
According to him, the region has sacrificed a lot and must be allowed to produce the next President of the country whether zoning or not zoning.
He called for the integration of the zone in the affairs of the country. According to him, Nigeria must treat the South-East fairly and on equitable order.
He said: “We will continue to say as a father of the statement that we will not belong to Biafra, we will not.
“We will not go back to second slavery, we will not. We want to belong to Nigeria, we want to belong to fair play and equitable Nigeria.
“And let me state very clearly, zoning or no zoning party or no party, south-east must not be schemed out of the affairs of this nation, it must not be schemed out.
“What is good for other states, is good for the southeast, it doesn’t matter whom God enthrones. Let the southeast be properly integrated into the affairs of this nation. We are nation builders, we should not be filt.
“We have investments in every part of this country and people use hate speeches to keep us down, people should not be afraid of us.
“We will work with the people for the love and unity of this country. Give us a chance, treat us fairly for we have sacrificed. Even the states that are asking for VAT to collect, we have contributed a lot in building those states”
