₦airaland Forum

South-East reps caucus dares PDP
, Rejects ‘unjust PDP power sharing formula’

From MODESTUS CHUKWULAKA, Abuja

Monday, May 16, 2011

The South East Caucus of the House of Representatives yesterday rejected the zoning formula recently adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP in respect of major offices of government at the federal level, describing it an affront to the people of the zone. unjust. In a statement in Abuja yesterday, the 43-member caucus led by the Chief Whip, Emeka Ihedioha, said the PDP zoning arrangement was deliberately skewed against the South-East zone, saying the formula was unfair, unjust and inequitable.

It said the decision of the “expanded caucus of the PDP to exclude the South East Zone from occupying the offices of either the President of the Senate or Speaker, House of Representatives in spite of the demand from the South East governors, Ohaneze Ndigbo, South East caucus of the House of Representatives and indeed other prominent sons and daughters of the South East is most disappointing, regrettable and affront to the collective psyche and well being of the people of the zone.”
According to the law makers, insisting on denying the South East zone either of the two offices in the face of “obvious political realities arising from the results of the April 2011 general elections is tantamount to insufficient recognition of the overwhelming support by the zone both to Mr. President and the PDP as a party.

“It is a widely acknowledged fact that the zone voted massively for PDP in all the offices contested in the last elections. PDP got 85% support in the National Assembly elections. It is estimated that the South East people living within the zone and across the country gave Mr. President approximately over 8 million votes in the presidential elections”

Although the South East Caucus said it was not minded to join issues with any other zone, it noted that the South East’s contribution to PDP electoral fortunes in the election far outweighs the votes from the South West, where the speakership had been zoned.
The statement noted that with only three returning PDP members out of only five from the South West in the incoming House of Representatives, the choice for leadership recruitment had been severely limited. We insist that a fair reward system must be instituted by the PDP and Mr. President in order to ensure that justice, equity and fair play reign supreme in the conduct of governmental affairs in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

But in the face of this obvious injustice to the South East with over 18 cognate members in the incoming House, out of at least 33 PDP members, we as elected representatives of the people of the zone, cannot sit back and watch our people decimated politically, socially and economically. As the elected representatives of our people, we are not unaware of the groundswell of public resentment and restiveness directly emanating from this issue. We therefore implore Mr. President and the PDP not to take our support, patriotism, and loyalty for granted.

“We demand that the National Executive Committee of the PDP, being the highest decision making body of the party re-visits this decision and accede to the demand of the South East on this matter. We are not begging to be given deserving and commensurate offices, we demand it. It is the duty and responsibility of all well meaning Nigerians, all stakeholders in the South East, and all National Assembly members-elect to reject this zoning policy and demand its reversal.

“This demand is not for selfish purposes, because as practitioners in the present democratic dispensation, we know that the position of a Presiding Officer in a democracy as opposed to quasi military democracy is critical for resource allocation and influence at the commanding heights of government where decisions affecting the lives and well being of Nigerians are taken.“It is our fervent hope that Mr. President and the PDP will reverse this zoning formula in the interest of equity and fair-play,” the caucus said.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2011/may/16/national-16-05-2011-002.html

All those begging for positions are pathetic.
In politics, you take what is yours; you don't beg for them. So, if -through whatever weird conspiracy against us, PDP fails to give us what is rightfully ours, any member of the SE legislators who remain in PDP, has effectively sold our mandate to the highest bigger. Wouldn't be the first time, but we can make it be the last time.

And they will not eat it forever because we are waiting for them at home.
Actually, whether this continues depends on Igbo nation, not just PDP members.

Thanks Chyz!

Decamping to APGA is the only reasonable thing for Ndigbo.
APGA has ALWAYS been the only rational party for Ndigbo anyway, but somehow, Ohanaeze convinced us to support Jonathan.
I was against his candidacy until Ohanaeze's endorsement.
I don't regret listening to Ohanaeze. I regret that Ohanaeze did not extract firm commitments from Jonathan before endorsing him.

I will still advise my Igbo brothers to not throw away the baby with the bathwater.
We need a UNITED ONE VOICE to push our agenda in Nigeria. If Ohanaeze failed, we must oust its current leadership.

I will repeat this again. Nigerian politics is very infantile and elementary. Pray, what is so hard in supporting only YOUR OWN tribe in elections? Nothing. What we did is a very difficult thing -which is to support someone from another tribe.

That we are being stabbed in the back only makes the stabber the bigger f00l.
Igbo say that nkita adighi ata okpukpu anyabara ya n'olu (a dog does not eat a bone entrusted to his care). So, if Jonathan wishes to stab us, then the shame is on him, not us.

I know that the North is still planning something. Their desperation to keep Nigeria one will force their hands when they see how unhappy SE is. Nevertheless, we shall see.

Bye for now folks!

I have also chosen to ignore mikeansy because he makes no sense.

The best scenario for him is for Ndigbo to go home and keep quiet.
Well, we have seen his type before in Igboland.

They actually shaped our history at the most critical times in Nigeria - Zik in 1957, and Ironsi in 1966.

@alj_harem

I really don't think that the game will last till 2015.
The north is eager to impeach Jonathan, and SE may play along.
I don't like it but I may hold my nose to support it.

@dayokanu

The idea is really to rattle PDP and throw up all kinds of possibilities.

Nigerian politics is interesting when you have no soul.

If there is a permutation that can make Ngige of ACN senate president, I am for it, even if some PDP thieves need to be bought over.

Ezeuche my brother,

There are no permanent enemies in politics. We can caucus (if PDP SE joins APGA ) with ACN and strike a deal to make Ngige Senate president and someone from North speaker of the house of reps.

@RoadStar

Let me help you. Yes, we gain something from the position because it shows that we exist in the first place in Nigeria. GEJ got a whopping 5 million votes from SE alone. I bet you be got about double that from all Igbos in Nigeria.

If you are a foreigner looking at Nigeria, would you think that we even exist at all.
If some of us are agitating here, would a foreign country think that we are simply trouble makers without any numerical strength to support our position?

If the position is useless, why was OBJ banging the table while demanding them for SW?

Have you been to the North? Which part of Nigeria has better federal roads than the North?

We want the presidency in 2015, but as things stand, we may not get it.

It is like we can never get what we want in Nigeria even if we deserve it. That is why we must redefine our relationship with Nigeria.

@dayokanu
Like I said, I don't support it, mainly because it will only help the North to impeach Jonathan. I hate being used by the North or anybody. That is why this Jonathan betrayal hurts.

They should move to APGA and caucus with ACN and others to elect the speaker even if the speaker still goes to SW, at least they can defend that then, and also deny PDP that position.

That is only a first step among MANY others we need to figure out how to extricate ourselves from Nigeria if need be.

I read somewhere that the SE members at the national assembly are planning to caucus with the Northern members to elect a speaker from the North. Though I understand why they are doing so, I don't like it.

Jonathan is only a symptom of a larger conspiracy against Ndigbo, which I suspect is based in the North.

The SE members may be planning to support the North in impeaching Jonathan.

I think they should move to APGA first and start planning how to free us from Nigeria.

^^
Actually I meant people like Ebitu Ukiwe (if he is still active). Of course he should gather men of like minds (and military background) in Igboland and form a "consultative forum" who would plan our survival in Nigeria, or exit from Nigeria. It must be one or the other.

The leader we need now should not be a "conformist", someone who does not want to upturn the applecart.

We need people who say things UNDIPLOMATICALLY. We need courageous men who (preferably have some military background) can speak, and the rest of Nigeria and international community will hear us loud and clear.

There may be a silent conspiracy against Ndigbo which we need to fight with all our resources.

In a way, this political development is the catalyst needed for something to happen in Nigeria.
Of course the elected members from SE can also decide to seat comfortable and ignore the yearnings of Ndigbo back home, but they can be assured that they will lose their return and their relevance. There is a political vacuum now in Igboland. I know for a fact that it won't last because someone will step forward to lead us out of the mess.

Ikedi Ohakim never believed that he would not be Imo state governor for another four years. We can sustain the same momentum and kick out all the reps if they fail to fight in defense of our dignity.

We are either Nigerians or we must leave Nigeria. We cannot continue to shoulder the burden of Nigeria's unity.

I must also say that we have a job to do in Igboland, and that is to educate our people about Nigeria.

I have never seen a group so naive and innocent about their own country as Ndigbo.
What they see as "being nationalistic" is what others see as being st00pid and naive.
I see them even on this forum, trying to tell us that Ndigbo are not being maligned and cheated openly in their own country. If an Igbo is not in consideration for any of the top 3 positions in Nigeria (as one of the three largest ethnic groups in Nigeria, YES WE ARE!) what makes you think that a minority customs officer at the wharf won't sit on your containers as if you can do sh^%t about it?
That is what these Igbo peeps fail to understand.

It is either we are treated as one of the MAJOR stake holders in Nigeria, or we should really go home and sit down to figure out how to leave Nigeria altogether.

I must also say that I was not initially sold to the GEJ presidency because I felt it would be a mere continuation of the OBJ presidency. The man never showed any courage to confront OBJ who is the literal 800 pound gorilla in the PDP. He failed to distance himself from OBJ. He is still playing OBJ script. I was convinced by Ohanaeze to support this man. So, Ohanaeze should prepare for a deluge of backlash in Igboland if this nonsense continues. All these are good for Ndigbo because we need to play Nigerian politics like other Nigerians.

We must be without emotions as we plan our way forward. And NEVER AGAIN would we relegate our interest in Nigeria.

I have to start by first apologizing to my Igbo brothers for my strong support of a GEJ presidency on this forum. I feel your pains, but in the true spirit of Ndigbo, we must soldier on.

What we need now more than anything else is to remain united, resolute and without emotions as we plan our way forward. At least we achieved unity of purpose in this election, and no one can take that away if we don't let them.

All SE PDP members at the NA should decamp and join APGA. Even if it is just for the heck of it. When PDP loses the majority in the house of reps, maybe sanity will start to set in. Of course there will still be few selfish folks like Ekweremadu who would stay in PDP, but he will be there alone and conspicuous.

Meanwhile the new APGA should caucus with ACN and other parties to elect a new non-PDP speaker. There are other permutations which can even pay us more, but let's wait first.

Nigerian politics is really simple. We took the higher road because we felt we needed to support a minority from the SS whom a northerner termed "unelectable". But that is in the past now. You cannot shake hands with one hand. It takes two to tango. If GEJ has any plans for SE (which I really doubt) he should shout it to the rooftops now, else PDP is dead, along with his true base.

Senate, see map!

If all SE PDP members of the national assembly joins APGA, PDP will be finished there.

See map!  

SE members of the national assembly should be considering decamping and joining APGA if this plays out as is.
They have absolutely nothing to gain by remaining in PDP.

This is part of why I lamented that Akunyili lost in her contest with Ngige; but I hope that Ngige would not keep quiet at the senate.

Frankly, we should ensure that all political options are on the table as the negotiation continues. And we should be ready for an all opposition alliance against the PDP at the national assembly and in subsequent elections.

The way I see it, we had two levels of different choices going into this election.

1) Stay in the mainstream by voting for PDP in the national elections

or

2) Go the regional way by voting for APGA

In the mainstream, we had two choices:

a) Support our neighbor from a minority tribe

or

b) Go for VP position by teaming with a majority from the North.

Well, we chose to stay in the mainstream, and at the same time adopted our neighbor.
I was among those initially opposed to it, but, since I know that history is not ending in 2011 (at least I hope), we could try the option we did; and if it fails, we would at least know that it failed; meaning there will NEVER be such opinion by any Igbo in the future.

And that is why we are having this conversation now.

So, in essence, we lost nothing. Conversely, we gained something invaluable: EXPERIENCE.

Going forward, we will be more surefooted.  

To be taken seriously in Nigeria, we need to activate our youths, like it happened in Imo state.

Our survival in Nigeria will depend on our youths, not on any of the older folks.

Until we start showing some serious restlessness in Nigeria, no one would take us seriously.

I remember I advised Amaka to stick to romance section. Frankly she over-reacts to everything here.
The insult on justcash is completely unwarranted and came out of no where.  

We have opinions and must share them here without being unnecessarily attacked.

@topic

I think our (Igbo) problem is about to be finally resolved. This problem is OUR problem. Not other zones'.
If this plays out this way, we owe no one going forward.

I don't care whether PDP survives in SE or SS; that is not our concern. It may well survive in all parts of Nigeria; but it must be kicked out of ALL parts of Igboland if this happens.  

Our concern is to go get our fair dues in Nigeria, whether the powers that be like it or not.

Woe betide whoever stands in our way then.  

^^
Of course I don't buy it. I'm only using his sword to slay him.

@jason

You of all people should be most worried about current development because it will torpedo whatever southern Nigerian unity you've been canvassing. There is no way to explain that a region that produced 6 PDP members of the national assembly should produce a speaker ahead of a region that produced 43 PDP members of the national assembly.

I would also worry if I were a minority because other majority tribes are watching the current plight of Ndigbo. They are ringing their fingers and vowing never to repeat the "Igbo mistake" of supporting Jonathan.

Posted by: jason123

The wise are caught in their own craft. - a biblical passage


I think that is meant for you!!!

What is the "craft" of supporting a minority (using my majority population) to become Nigerian president?

Please don't abuse the bible here by quoting out of context.

If Ndigbo learn anything from this development, it is that there is no "paddy for jungle".

You would be a fool to think that anyone can out-compete us in Nigeria if we become interested; and believe me, this development is attracting our KEEN interest.

I have really sat down to think about this development, and I came to the conclusion that the only reason behind it, is that some sections of Nigeria are really disturbed and worried about a possible SE/SS rapport, and are determined to undermine it. This is a no-brainer. But, the question is whether GEJ will fall for that. If he does, then he may go down as the only president from that part of Nigeria. The stakes are too high for his people and region; but that will be his problem to solve going forward (if this game plays out as it is now).

As for the SE, we need to FIRMLY reject any stoopid SFG position and idiotic deputy senate president.
I know that senate president or speaker of the house don't tar roads or build infrastructures, but, you can NEVER ask to be ordained a bishop when you have never been ordained a priest in your life.

Obasanjo that is behind all these things knows what he is doing. It is only that an Igbo boy like myself can see what his old eyes sees, even BEFORE he sees them.

It is time our leaders drop the emotion and sentiments and go for our fair dues in Nigeria.
They should know what to do.

Alj Harem,

It is very true that Igbo embark on serious self help community development projects. I don't think any region rivals us in that because Imo airport remains the only community built airport in Nigeria.

But, if we must keep building our own roads and infrastructure, then, of what use is Nigeria? Why are we still in this country if we cannot be given our dues in Nigeria? I will never be proud of those community built projects until we have seceded from Nigeria.
I cannot boast of something the federal government should have built in the first place.

Ezeuche

By "lets keep watching the games" I meant figuratively, not literally.

And I believe that voting out our leaders is the least of what needs to happen. We need to collectively take a position on how we stay in Nigeria, or how we leave. We cannot continue getting the same result after making so much sacrifice for Nigeria.
My Nnewi folks say "Ije ekweghi ojije, o ga ekweriri onuna" (if a journey proves too tasking to continue, it cannot prove too tasking to discontinue)

We need to begin now to organize ourselves around a new paradigm. What that paradigm becomes, must be a response to political realities in Nigeria. We must lose emotions and our sense of fairness to survive in Nigeria. We will need the same things to leave if we must.