The senator representing Imo West senatorial district, Sen. Rochas Okorocha, has said that the idea of an Igbo presidency would remain a mirage until the South East learnt to “mend fences”.
The immediate-past Imo state governor stated this while speaking with journalists after he was sworn-in as a member of the Upper Chamber on Wednesday.
Okorocha reminded the South East that the region could not single-handedly produce the nation’s president, saying it was politically expedient for the region to extend a hand of fellowship to other regions.
He said, “Power is not given, power is taken. The South East people cannot just fold their arms and expect power to be given to them just because they want power. Power does not go with sentiment. Sometimes, it’s on issues on ground.
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“Democracy is about the people and the South East alone cannot make themselves president. So, you cannot be talking about Igbo presidency, it doesn’t exist.
“We may be talking about Nigeria’s president of Igbo extraction, but that depends on what other geopolitical zones think about the issue.
“For me, what is important is let power be given to somebody who has something upstairs, who can put food on the table of the common man, irrespective of religion or where you come from.”
Explaining why it was necessary for the region to reach out to other regions, Okorocha said, “There is need for Igbo to mend fences. Politically, we are neither here nor there. We are not in the ruling party neither are we making impact in the opposition. So, there is need for us to get married to the rest of the nation politically.”
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