A group under the aegis of The patriots For Dr. Ogbonaya Onu has asked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as its consensus. presidential standard bearer in its legitimate quest to retain power at the centre post-2023.
Dr. Onu is the immediate past miniater of science and Technology who resigned to slug it iut with other aspirants of the party gunning for the presidency.
Led by Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi at a press briefing in Abuja on Friday the group said Onu is not only acceptable to the Ndigbo and APC, but to all Nigerians due to his broad and sterling appeal for which the majority of voters will coalesce.
The university Don said they are a group that are interested in galvanizing the effort of well-meaning Nigerians for the actualization and emergence of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as the elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria come 2023.
Professor Fawehinmi observed that the worthy course if left to slide can only be actualised in the next 16 years with the sustenance of the current democratic dispensation.
“The Patriots called on all eligible Nigerians to massively vote for Dr Ogbonnaya Onu in the forthcoming elections to enable him take over the mantle of leadership of Nigeria to pilot its affairs to the promise land as there is nothing as powerful. and an idea whose time has come”.
“Nigeria at this perilous time needs a detribalized leader that will foster unity, put the interest of all Nigerians above sectional interest, fight endemic corruption frontally, tackle widespread insecurity pervading the land headlong and prosper the lives of its citizenry through economic emancipation and job creation.
“Amongst the contenders that have openly declared their intentions to contest, these requisite attributes stand Dr Ogbonnaya Onu out as most formidable with sterling performance over the years.
“Dr Ogbonnaya Onu has been an indigene of 3 South-Eastern States (imo, Abia and Ebonyi) at different times. During his tenure as the first civilian Governor of the old Abia State in 1991, he meritoriously served as the first Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Elected Governors.
“As Governor, he promoted national unity by abolishing the State of Origin Syndrome and appointed non-indigenes to key political and administrative positions in the State. “As Chief Security Officer, he worked with the security agencies and community leaders to restore peace and safety in Abia State, then challenged by unprecedented security concerns.
“He promoted the rule of law in the conduct of government business by emphasizing transparency, discipline and punctuality and mobilized the people of Abia for sustainable development through various infrastructural, educational, health and social welfare programmes.”
He added that Rotational Presidency has always carried with it a strong moral force that can threaten the sovereign integrity of Nigeria.”
Fawehinmi said it is also a pragmatic means formally adopted by political parties prior to Nigeria’s independence to stabilize the Country’s democracy from Cleavage along ethno-religious lines as it creates a sense of belonging for all tribes.
“Since the advent of the fourth republic, apart from the South-East and North-Central, other geopolitical zones of Nigeria have had a shot at the presidency.
“The pros of zoning clearly outweigh its cons and jettisoning it will be a dangerous precedent for the country’s nascent democracy and an affront on the collective will and peaceful coexistence of its people. “Egalitarianism cannot thrive when a major segment of society is nursing a feeling of discontentment.
“Dr Ogbonnaya Onu’s election will assuage the feeling of real or perceived marginalization among the Ndigbo that constitute about a quarter of the Country’s population, guarantee their full re-integration into the post-civil war Nigerian state.
“It will end their agitations for socioeconomic and political emancipation as happened to the militancy struggle in the South-South with the election of Dr Goodluck Jonathan as President in 2011.
“It will give the civil war veterans including former Heads of State a sense of fulfilment, to see their dream of a truly unified Nigeria which they have fought for, materialize in their lifetime.
“A multicultural and pluralistic society like ours needs a technocrat and nationalistic leader 4 like Dr Ogbonnaya Onu that can be entrusted with its unity and treasury, to provide a transformational leadership devoid of sentiments and rancour.”
According to Fawehinmi what stands Onu out is the fact that he has never had a brawl with the anti-corruption and security agencies, and this gives him the moral justification to fight corruption.
Again he said, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu prefers meritocracy to nepotism as a way of earning the confidence of the people, and has demonstrable capacity to work with every Nigerian irrespective of religious or tribal persuasion.
“His political sagacity, requisite experience, managerial acumen and comportment will earn him the respect of the government and people.
“Therefore, we make a clarion call to all political and opinion Leaders as well as ail well meaning Nigerians to synergize, pull resources together, build bridges across party lines and rally support from their various regional interest groups for Dr Ogbonnaya Onu.
“He has been projected as the ideal President for Nigeria come 2023 as he belongs to an endangered species of statesmen who can galvanize all facets of this country and provide the much needed modern day progressive leadership. The election of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as President will sustain the existence of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.