2027: Formation of S’East former govs’ forum ploy to deceive

From Okwe Obi, Abuja

A former governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Alex Chukwuemeka Obiechina, has alleged that the formation of the Forum of Former South East Governors is targeted at deceiving President Bola Tinubu, ahead of the 2027 elections.

Obiechina, in a statement yesterday, urged Nigerians not to be deceived by the attempt by a few desperate politicians to create false impressions about where the South East stands regarding the 2027 general election.

He stressed that the purported formation of Forum of Former South East Governors is the project of one man and does not reflect a sincere and willing gathering of former governors of the zone.

Obiechina, who was the Enugu State governorship candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and 2011, stated that any gathering of former South East governors that does not have the likes of Senator Jim Nwobodo, Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo and Peter Obi cannot be in the interest of the region.

He expressed dismay that some leaders of All Progressives Congress (APC) have chosen to cause confusion in the region due to their desperation to be seen as arrowheads of President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign.

He disclosed that the masses of South East are interested in any political party that recognises the fact that the 2027 presidential election is the turn of the region, stressing that the geopolitical zone has rejected APC the same way it rejected PDP for being unfair and negligent of the region.

“When you talk of credible leaders of the South East, particularly governors that left a monumental positive impact in the lives of the people of the South East, you must talk about Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo, Senator Jim Nwobodo, and Peter Obi.

“What happened in Enugu few days ago was at best a gathering of members of the faction of All Progressives Congress (APC) that are opposed to the leadership of Hope Uzodimma, who is not only the Chairman of Progressives Governors’ Forum, but also Chairman of South East Governors’ Forum.

“So, I think the former chairman of South East Governors’ Forum, Engr. David Umahi, who is no longer a governor, wants to remain chairman through the backdoor.

“How can any well-meaning leader wake up to form an association of former governors without consultations and unanimous consent of incumbent governors in the five South East states? I hope President Bola Tinubu will not fall for this cheap political trick,” he stated.

On the situation of the coalition opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), Obiechina called on the Nigerian Judiciary to toe the patriotic path by ensuring that nothing is done by desperate politicians to endanger the sustenance of the country’s democracy.

He stated: “Nigeria’s democracy has come a long way. After nearly 27 years, every citizen owes it as a duty to insist that democracy governed by the rule of law survives.

“That is why I am calling on judges, lawyers, and, indeed, every stakeholder in the electoral process to play the patriotic card instead of extreme partisanship.

“We can only aspire to be leaders if we have a country. This is time to emulate the sacrifices of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Let every politician, irrespective of party or ethnic nationality, take the fact that his/her ambition is not worth the blood of Nigerians as a creed and work for the stability of the country and its democracy.”