The umbrella body of ethnic Igbos in Lagos State resolved on Thursday it would be in the interest of Igbos “to vote for a continuation of the presidency of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan”.
Ndigbo Lagos in an 11-point communiqué said: “The strategic future of Ndigbo within the framework of a larger NIGERIA
will be better served by a continuation of a Jonathan presidency.”
will be better served by a continuation of a Jonathan presidency.”The resolutions were announced in a statement jointly signed by the group’s President-General, Prof. Anya O. Anya, and Secretary-General, David Nwachukwu.
The group said it took the decision after reading the manifestos of the various political parties and listening to campaign promises of presidential candidates.
Ndigbo Lagos said Jonathan had shown commitment toward addressing imbalances in the political structure of Nigeria.
.It said: “We are cognisant of the importance of the forthcoming elections to the future of the Igbo nation and also conscious of the imperative of a united, sovereign Nigeria.”
.”The group said that a lack of equity, fairness and justice arising from the current political structure of Nigeria caused many ills that bedeviled the country over the years.
According to the group, an unfair political structure, which enthrones mediocrity in place of merit, promotes indolence, corruption and lop-sided federal presence should be corrected.
It said: “The 2014 National Conference, which President Jonathan set up, produced a report that was unanimously adopted by all delegates across all the geopolitical zones and nationalities.
“The outcomes of the conference include creation of additional state within or from the South-East to give equity to the Igbo nation and creation of more states to give voice to minorities.”
The group also cited other conference resolutions, including rotation of the presidency between the North and the Nouth and among the six geopolitical zones as well as creation of state police for more effective fight against crime.
“These resolutions, if eventually put into the constitution, will go a long way toward restoring confidence in the Nigerian project,” the group said.
It noted that Jonathan had shown much enthusiasm in the outcomes of the national conference.
Ndigbo Lagos added: “We, therefore, adopt President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan as our preferred candidate for the 2015 election.
“We enjoin Ndigbo everywhere and indeed, all Nigerians to come out en masse onFebruary 14 and vote for President Goodluck Jonathan.”
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