By Myke Uzendu
Following the lamentation of 94 years old Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo who bemoaned the state of Nigeria compared to his era as Zikist and later Awoist in the first and second republic, front line Presidential aspirant, Peter Obi has assured him that his Presidency will return Nigeria to the glorious era.
Recall that top leaders from the Afenifere, Middle Belt and South South had under the aegis of Greater Nigeria Conference, gathered in Abuja on Monday to publicly declare their support for the emergence of a President from the South East in 2023.
The Chairman of the Greater Nigeria Conference, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State, said the purpose of the Conference was to showcase Southeast presidential aspirants to Nigerians and appeal to the rest of the country to zone the presidency to the Southeast on the basis of equity, justice and fairness.
Making his presentation on the theme “Abuja 2023: Together we can,” Nwodo reminded Nigerians of the 1999 political arrangement that produced the Olusegun Obasanjo presidency even when he was not popular in the Southwest.
Reacting on the purpose of the conference, former Anambra state Governor, Peter Obi noted that the country is in bad shape and requires person with requisite experience and knowledge to save it hence his decision to join the race.
Obi who took the podium said that Nigeria needs problem solvers not consensus candidates.
He said, “Going by the enormity of Nigeria’s problems, they are not looking for a consensus candidate. They are looking forward to somebody who will start solving their problems.
“The firm duty of a leader is to be a problem solver. Nigerians are looking forward to somebody that can make Nigeria productive and start getting Nigerians to be pulled out of poverty. That’s what Nigerians are looking for, not consensus candidate. So, I want to correct that.
“Nigeria is collapsing. People are looking for a fixer; somebody who will start creating wealth, not about where is this. Where you come from is important, because some people can say we are looking for equity and justification, which is necessary in a diverse country”
