…Insists North, West must not present candidates
By Ezeocha Nzeh
Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West district, Rochas Okorocha, has advised politicians from other zones of the country to stay away from the 2023 presidential election, insisting that it is the turn of the South East to produce president Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023
This is as Okorocha, who is also the senator representing Imo West senatorial district in the National Assembly officially declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2023 on Monday.
The former governor emphasized that the 2023 presiodency is not only about zoning or rotation, but mainly about justice, while appealing to party leaders to allow a level-playing field for candidates no matter their region.
Okorocha made the declaration at a World Press Conference, after it was made public on the floor of the Senate last week.
He said, “I hear people talking about zoning, I’m not a candidate of zoning, I am a candidate of justice. Maybe the South-East has not been able to present their matter very well before the rest of Nigerians.
“The principal cardinal point of Nigeria is about justice. This is conspicuously contain in both the holy Quran and the bible which we all profess
“Other zones have occupied the seat of presidency in Nigeria, except the South East, this time around; both the North and West must not run for president. His is about justice; the Igbo must not be neglected by other sections of the country
“I appeal to my party – APC, to allow a level-playing ground. And the South-East must know that power is not given, it is taken. You must reach out to people who you want to vote for you. But let justice reign.”
The lawmaker who promised to reunite the country challenged all other aspirants to the plum office to list what they have to promote the unity of the country, he said, previous leaders have been unable to tackle head on.
He also promised free access to education, from basic to secondary school level, adding that he would be leading a new Nigeria that would turn the nation into a producing country, away from its present state of consuming nation.
He said, “I’m not in politics for what I can get but in politics for what I can give. I’m not satisfied with the situation in the country. There might be facts under statistics and data that the situation is bad in many sectors, but Nigeria is mightier than that. Nigeria is a great nation. It will rise again. The new Nigeria is possible.
“Education is life. The New Nigeria will declare free education from primary to secondary school.
“We shall emphasize production. Work must be compulsory. The problem is not that we are poor but the problem is to manage the resources we have. Our business shall be of development and progress. We shall develop resources in our land.
“We are here to help the poor and the needy and the downtrodden. There’s no part of this country or zone where you will not see my signature. I challenge all those contesting with me to show this country what they have done in uniting this country.
