By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Frontline chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Marcel Nnah, has charged the South-East governors to critically analyse the implications of the claims that the South-East zone was marginalised from list of projects to be executed with the foreign loans being obtained by the Federal Government.
According to him, the governors should take appropriate action to redress such along with other political leaders and technocrats since the entire country will be involved in the loan repayment.
Prince Nnah argued that since the political office holders took up leadership portfolio in trust for the people of the zone, they are the most qualifies to do so and permanently resolve the endless marginalisation of the zone in allocation of national resources, offices and project.
He also called on all Nigerians to support the call for the South-East to produce the next Nigerian president, pointing out that it is the only way to satisfy the quest for equity in our national polity.
“I can categorically tell you that rotational presidency is PDP pet project, which the elders of the PDP weighed in to ensure that the six geo-political zones participate at the highest leadership portfolio in the nation.
“Where every section gets what is due, or where things are done appropriately, it would not have been the case. As things stand now, if the South-East insists on producing the next president, it will be a welcome development because they will do very well in restoring the nation’s wobbling economy.”
“Since it has been discovered that the South-East wa removed from benefiting as appropriate from the loans, I urge all the governors in the zone to rise up to the occasion, analyse the ramifications and take appropriate steps.
“I therefore urge my state governor, Hon. (Dr.) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to take the lead by organizing his colleagues and harmonise the issues and make a presentation at the appropriate quarters for redress.
“You made references to federal character, it is a constitutional affair. So, if you want to change to merit system, you have to first of all, amend the constitution.
“Before you talk of merit, let every segment in the country participate at that level first and then, you amend the constitution and begin to implement merit.
“Merit is good, but there is need for equal opportunity. You can’t talk about merit where there are no equal opportunity among the geo-political zones and individuals.”
Commenting on the Sovereignty Clauses contained in loan agreements with China, the PDP chieftain said “People have made references to China loans. They are always a dilemma to any nation that takes it. I have been to China and witnessed the way they messed up our citizens.
“If not for the quick intervention of the National Assembly, what we are discussing now would have been a thing of the past. The reversal of those unfavourable clauses must be revisited,” he said.
Also on the rising insecurity in the country, Prince Nnah said that agitations would not resolve any fears, and urged President Muhammadu Buhari to properly analyse the issues and take the most appropriate steps to restore sanity in the country.
On the giant strides recorded by Governor Ugwuanyi, he said: “I try to avoid discussing our ‘Performing Governor’, Hon. Ugwuanyi. This is because people always attack me that I am pro-Ugwuanyi.
“I must state that he has been a man of unimpeachable sense of justice and equity. Look at what the state gets from federation allocation and the IGR, yet, he manages the lean resources with so much prudence. This is because he knows where it affects his people the most and he attends to such.
“Due to his emotional attachment to uplifting the Enugu State, some people try to accuse him of being too soft and wanting to satisfy everybody.”
