SUNDAY PUNCH investigations showed that the latest twist has further dampened the spirit of the people of the zone and called to question the credibility of their leaders who had rallied support for President Goodluck Jonathan and the party in the just concluded April elections.
The electorate in the zone had voted massively for the PDP in the elections, just as they delivered over five million votes for Jonathan during the April 16 presidential poll in anticipation that some choice positions in the nation’s power hierarchy would be given to people from the zone.
Specifically, the South-East had predicated its support for Jonathan on the understanding that it would get the position of Senate President or the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the incoming administration.
Of the four governorship slots contested in the last elections in the zone, the PDP won three. The states are Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia. The party, however, lost Imo State to the All Progressives Grand Alliance.
The zoning formula announced by the PDP on Tuesday had given the South-East, the deputy senate president and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation slots, while the North Central would hold on to the seat of the Senate president, and the South-West would retain the position of Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Already, the South- South occupies the nation’s number one position with Jonathan, who is from the zone, while the North West has the number two position. Vice-President Namadi Sambo is from the zone.
Reacting to the development, a former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife, told our correspondent that anti-Igbo elements in the PDP had plotted to sever the Igbo from the Presidency.
He said, “Some people think the relationship with the president should be shaken. They are making all sorts of arguments about Christianity and all that, but they forget that once in this country we voted for a Muslim-Muslim ticket when Chief MKO Abiola and Babagana Kingibe were running.”
Ezeife said with the situation, it was obvious the South-East had no more representatives in government.
He said, “Although it is a PDP affair, this is not what we bargained for. It is not only the President that is making the decisions, but our people who voted for him are not party members.”
Ezeife said the zone had even pressed for the position of PDP Chairman after the ouster of its former helmsman, Dr. Okwesilezie Nwodo, but without success.
He added, “We don’t have anybody negotiating for us now. After picking their choice, they just give what is left to us.”
SUNDAY PUNCH findings reveal that the Igbo leaders who had insisted that the zone would settle for nothing less than the positions of Speaker or the Senate President had suddenly become quiet.
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had demanded that the zone be fairly treated and given a position that was commensurate with the massive support its people gave the party.
Though the group’s President, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, was not available for comments, his aide told our correspondent the former envoy, now a member of the panel investigating the post election violence that rocked some states in April, was busy on national assignment.
The South-East Revival Group also said it was impossible to predict the reaction of the millions who voted for the PDP from the zone if their interests were not protected.
Its Co-ordinator-General, Chief Willy Ezugwu, said the zone had again been marginalised.
He said, “If this does not happen, there is the danger of one not knowing what the reactions of the average person on the streets of the South-East will be. They have suffered enough humiliation of being turned into minorities.”
Ezugwu warned that any Igbo who agreed to serve as the SGF would have succeeded in killing the Igbo political class and the future of the geo-political zone.
Last Friday, governorship candidate of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change in Enugu State, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, said the South-East was again the loser, particularly in the preparation for 2015.
However, the PDP said there were no misgivings over the zoning formula from the geopolitical zones.
The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Prof. Rufai Alkali, said, “The party will come up with a position that will not only satisfy our members, but will also stabilise the polity.’’
The party’s National Vice Chairman (South-East), Olisa Metuh, also said the zone was working out details within the party.
“The South-East leaders are addressing the issue, our people should be calm. They should be loyal and obedient and have confidence in us. The South-East zone may be allocated important ministries by the president,” he said.
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