A socio-cultural group, Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative (OPI) has begun what it described as “a massive mobilisation” for the presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the South-east.
The group also challenged the people of the South Eastern region on the need to get to the mainstream of Nigerian politics if the region must actualise its presidential ambition.
The group said the time was ripe for the South-east zone to abandon playing regional politics and get involved in mainstream national politics.
National coordinator of the group and Federal Commissioner, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Hon. Ginika Florence Tor, made the call Friday in Abuja while unveiling the campaign strategies and support for Tinubu’s presidency and all APC candidates at the 2023 election.
Flanked by leaders of the group, Tor said it was time for Ndigbo to be fully integrated at the centre stage of the country’s political structure.
According to her, “It is time for South-east to get into the mainstream of Nigerian politics. We cannot be in Zone A and expect to reap from Zone B. We need to be involved in Nigerian politics to stop the perceived marginalisation.
“We must realise that power is not given free of charge, it must be earned. We have to be deeply involved to be reckoned with and be given the trust to lead the country.”
Tor said her group initially was rooting for a South-east presidential candidate but had since fallen behind Asiwaju Tinubu’s candidacy when he emerged as the party’s flag bearer.
“Before the emergence of Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the APC presidential candidate, the record has it that Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative advocated for South-east Presidency under the platform of APC but Bola Ahmed who is in no doubt a man of capacity, credibility and competency emerged, a man that can be referred to as tested and trusted, We were left with no choice but to give our full support.
“It is in the light of this that we call on our people to team up with the Tinubu/Shetimma presidency and position ourselves for the proper integration into national politics.”
Speaking in the vein Hon. Jude idioms, a member representing the Oshodi/Isolo II constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, who is also the deputy national coordinator of the Omaluegwuoku Progressive Initiative, said the south east geopolitical zone has a very bright future under the presidency of Asiwaju Tinubu.
Citing the various appointees of Igbo stocks in Lagos State since 1999, Idimogu said the southeast zone “has to come out of our political cocoon and interact with other regions and be fully involved in national politics.”
The group then announced plans to commence a nationwide campaign under the auspices of Igbo Kwenu for Asiwaju/Shettima in the 36 States of the country as soonas the formal campaign flags off next month.
