April 26, 2022

Former Senate President and frontline presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stole the show on Monday at the Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC), which held at the Executive Hall of the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

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.

Emphasizing on the theme of the Greater Nigeria Conference, “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.

“Even in our own party, the Peoples Democratic Party, we chose a candidate that was not popular in his own region. The opposition party chose a candidate that was popular in that region. But together, Nigerians elected Obasanjo as their president.

“And we are asking, today that the Southeast is bleeding from marginalisation and injustice, why can’t Nigerians, people of conscience and goodwill come together to enthrone a Southeast president?

“This injustice must stop. This marginalistion must come to an end. We have to heal the wounds of the civil war. Do we have to wait for 100 years before that is done? We are appealing to our fellow country men and women. the time is now, the place is here to say that any part of our country that is bleeding, let us hold them and stop the bleeding.

“Why is it that when it comes to the Southeast, the conscience of the nation takes a flight? We have come here today to reawaken that conscience to tell our country that injustice to one is injustice to all. Today, it may be the Southeast, who knows who will be the next tomorrow?

“Let us make sure that nobody is left behind. That is the only way we can build a solid egalitarian society that will meet the needs of our people.

“In a short while we will show you the profile of the great men and women from the Southeast that are vying for Presidency. When you see their profile, you will know that we are not joking. we have men of timbre and calibre, caterpillar and bulldozer, conscience and capacity.

“Capacity is here today. Integrity is here. vision for greater Nigeria is on display here today.”

The candidates that cut across all political platforms presented a five-minute video of their profile and they were given another three minutes each to address the conference.

Senator Anyim’s video clip where he described himself as the “village boy” that overcame challenges to play not only on the national but also international stage stood out.

With testimonials by leaders such as former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan; former military Heads of State, General Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar; and immediate past and present Presidents-General of the foremost Igbo socio-political organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo and Professor George Obiozor, the capacity of Anyim, former Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF), was eloquently highlighted.

In his three-minute speech, Anyim who spoke extempore thanked the organisers of the Conference.

“If you ask me, what we needed to do after seeing the videos and after the presentations would simply be to thank the initiators of this conference. It was quite timely and I thank you immensely.

“I also thank leaders of other geopolitical zones that are here today to support us. It is quite patriotic ad courageous for them to do all they have been doing for all of us.”

Segmenting the problems confronting the country into political, economic and social, Anyim said a lot of people make the mistake of thinking that the economic aspect is the most fundamental when indeed the political problem which deals with the leadership question is the pivot on which others revolve.

Anyim said that explains why nations with strong economies run into problems and disintegrate when the political leadership is not fixed.

The former Senate President said he will provide the needed political leadership that will jumpstart the country’s development.

“In this matter, experience is important, exposure is important, knowledge is important. And I make bold to say I have the experience, exposure and knowledge to superintend over the affairs of this country,” he said at the Greater Nigeria Conference.

“I have worked in Abuja for about 33 years and all through my public service career, I have served only in the presidency. My civil service career was in the presidency. As President of the Senate, I worked with the President to run the country and as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, I was the engine room of the presidency. My experience is cognate and my exposure is nationwide.

“I usually segment the challenges before the country into political, social and economic. Most of the time people see the economic challenges as if it is the most important. I want to emphasise that the most important challenge facing our country today is political which will include leadership. You have to politically have a country before you talk about the economy. You have to have a country before you have social cohesion.

“If I have the opportunity to lead this country, you will see consensus. I will set up a new foundation upon which we will build our nation.”

His presentation was vigorously applauded by the conferees, most of who averred that his candidacy remains the most viable.

Chief Onukaogu Nwanne, a lawyer from Enugu State, said he was enthusiastic about Anyim’s aspiration.

“He is coming into this contest fully prepared. He has the most diverse knowledge of Nigeria and he is a bridge-builder. With him as president, Nigeria will heal and recover fast,” he said.

The Greater Nigeria Conference was attended by other presidential aspirants including Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, topflight pharmacist and boardroom guru; Engineer Dave Umahi, governor of Ebonyi State; Mr. Peter Obi, former governor of Anambra State; Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze, a U.S.-based medical doctor; Dr. Chris Ngige, Minister of Labour and Productivity; Senator Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo State; Dr. Mrs. Ify George Offorkansi and Mrs. Caroline Nwosu.

In her welcome speech, Senator Chris Anyanwu, President Nzuko Umunna, said giving the Southeast the opportunity to produce Nigeria’s president this time around will achieve a number of things among which are: equity, commitment to progress and team play.

“If you place premium value on our bonds of relationships, if you believe that working together we can make our beloved country greater, if you believe in equity and inclusiveness, if you believe that the other sibling has a right to be treated as an equal stakeholder/partner in this enterprise, then may I invite you to join me to say Yes, Together We can make Nigeria greater,” she said.