Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, a former Minister of State for Health, Engr. Fidelis Nwankwo, has urged Ndigbo to start lobbying the two major political parties in the country for their tickets to enable them achieve their presidential ambition.
The former Minister gave the advice on Sunday while speaking with some journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital.
The former minister challenged the Igbos to emulate the Yorubas who in 1998 picked the presidential ticket from the then major political parties, that resulted to their wholesome victory.
Nwankwo said: “Igbo’s are saying that they want Presidency.
“For me, what they should start doing is to influence the major political parties to give Igbo people nomination, the way it happened in 1998 when the Yorubas picked presidential ticket from the major political parties.
“And at the end of the day, it became for them a win, win situation.
“Likewise, if Igbos wants to be president, they should work and lobby and make their case through the two major political parties so that they can give their candidates nomination.”
Nwankwo, also a former Independent National Electoral Commission Commissioner, supported zoning as a political method, saying it is the only thing that would end agitations in the country.
He emphasised that zoning has played major role in the development of Ebonyi State, where the Peoples Democratic Party is in control.
He further explained: “In Ebonyi, PDP started their zoning from Ebonyi North Senatorial District to other zones of the state.
“If PDP is maintaining the zoning system in the State as it was started, a lot of people believed that the governorship should go to Ebonyi North in 2023
“When it comes to the North, we would look at the four local governments: One has been there.
“If using the same zoning system, that one local government is eliminated, and then we have three local governments left.
“It is going to be open for the three local governments for anyone that emerges, and by the next time, the two other local governments will have their chance.
“So, for me, the argument should be that those who are agitating should work on the political parties that control power and make sure that people from their area get nominated.
“I belong to PDP and I believe that what I have explained to you is the pattern the zoning has taken in this State.”
