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Former Senate President and ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, has said the South-East must build political alliances with other regions if it hopes to achieve its long-term ambition of producing Nigeria’s president.
Anyim made the remarks during an interview with Arise News, where he discussed the political future of the South-East, his decision to support the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the need for regional alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to Anyim, the South-East cannot achieve its presidential ambition by acting alone, arguing that political cooperation with other regions is necessary.
“I have given you one reason from the beginning: you need to align with another region in order to get your ultimate goal. This is political arithmetic, not about what he has done for that region or for Nigeria,” he said.
He said the region should focus on building relationships that could serve its long-term political interests rather than concentrating only on immediate gains.
Anyim said political parties should also operate around shared objectives and a common understanding.
“You need to support others so that they can support you. Political parties should be like a family with a common understanding and objective,” he said.
The former Senate President said discussions about democracy and nation-building should go beyond the provision of infrastructure and other immediate benefits.
He listed institutional development, individual liberty, citizens’ rights, justice, inclusivity and the rule of law as issues that should form the foundation of Nigeria’s political system.
“When you talk about democracy and nation-building, you should be talking about principles, institutions, fundamental objectives, liberty of the individual, rights of citizens, justice, inclusivity, and the rule of law,” Anyim said.
He added that his concern was for younger generations in the South-East to have a greater sense of inclusion and access to opportunities.
“My concern is not what I become—God has been so kind—but in my lifetime, I should be able to be sure that one day my children, my children’s children, and the younger generation in the Southeast will have that sense of inclusion and belonging,” he said.
Anyim also expressed confidence that the APC could expand its political presence in the South-East despite the influence of former Anambra State governor Peter Obi in the region.
“As far as I’m concerned, APC as a party has every reason and ground to make its own impact in the Southeast, and I can assure you that APC will greatly impact the Southeast,” he said.
On Obi, Anyim clarified that he remained his friend and respected him as a political figure but did not endorse his presidential bid in the 2023 election.
He explained that they belonged to different political parties and political camps.
“Peter is my friend and my brother, and I respect him,” Anyim said.
“But I belong to a separate party from where he is, so I did not endorse him. Peter is my friend, but we are not in the same political family. We are in different political camps.”
Anyim also said he believed most political leaders in the South-East supported the APC, while acknowledging that he was not the electoral commission.
“I am not INEC. But I am convinced, and very convinced, that virtually all the leaders in the Southeast support the APC, and their followers will support the APC,” he said.
