Philanthropist Solicits South East Support For PDP Presidential Candidate
By Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka
A Nigerian Philanthropist, Prince Arthur Eze has called for more support for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
Prince Arthur said Atiku Abubakar would liberate Nigeria and benefit the South East more.
This was made known in a statement delivered by the philanthropist recently, in Anambra State, during a solidarity visit to the director general of the Atiku-Okowa campaign in the state, Professor Obiora Okonkwo.
Speaking to reporters after his closed-door meeting at the home of Professor Okonkwo with some stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, Prince Eze urged the people of the southeast to continue the strategic relationship by supporting Atiku Abubakar in the February elections.
Political Benefits
He noted that the long-standing alliance between the North and the South East has always produced many political benefits to the region.
“I have known Atiku Abubakar to be an honest man, liberal, and a pan-Nigerian who aspires best for the nation, and he is committed to the renaissance of ndi-Igbo.
“He has demonstrated his huge love and concern for us ndi-Igbo by continuously choosing an Igbo man to be his running mate since 2007 when he picked Senator Ben Ndi Obi; again in 2019 when he picked Peter Obi; and now, Ifeanyi Okowa, an Igbo man from Delta State. He was willing to scale back his ambition if the ticket was micro-zoned to the southeast; only Atiku Abubakar agreed to such terms.
“It is apparent that with him as President of Nigeria, power is shifting to the southeast, and he will undoubtedly keep all of his promises.
“My appeal is for our people to seize the opportunity provided by Atiku Abubakar to renew the age-old alliance between the southeast and the north, which saw Nnamdi Azikiwe become President of Nigeria in the first republic and Alex Ekwueme serve as Vice President, while Edwin Ume-ezeoke was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives in the second republic.
“We have accomplished far more in this country’s politics through our alliance with the north, and in order to bargain for a Nigerian president of southeast origin, we must maintain that partnership through Atiku.”
According to Prunce Arthur, Atiku Abubakar would deliver on his promise of restructuring the country and ensuring that a southeasterner succeeds him as president.
He exhorted Igbo leaders in the diaspora and throughout Nigeria to convey Atiku Abubakar’s Rescue and Recovery agenda to the grassroots and throughout Nigeria, where Ndi-Igbo live and do business.
The Director General of the Atiku-Okowa Campaign in Anambra State praised the philanthropist for his unwavering support for the Atiku project and his numerous advocacy efforts, which have had an inexplicable impact on the southeast and ndi-Igbo in particular.
Professor Okonkwo reaffirmed the Atiku-Okowa campaign’s commitment to mobilize majority votes for Atiku-Okowa in Anambra State.
Stakeholders and representatives of ndi-Igbo in the Diaspora present at the meeting expressed their commitment to the Igbo Renaissance and urged southerners to support Atiku-Okowa.
They said with Prince Arthur Eze firmly behind the ticket, they are confident that he, Atiku Abubakar, would not fail the South East region.
Confidence Okwuchi