Ex-minister tasks PDP, APC on ceding 2023 presidential ticket to South East

Elder statesman and former Aviation Minister in the First Republic, Mbazulike Amaechi, yesterday, said the only way an Igbo man can emerge as president in 2023 is for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone their presidential tickets to the South East.

He stated this while speaking with journalists in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, maintaining that it would be difficult for the Igbo to win the presidential election in the country unless the two main parties concede their tickets to the region. He added that even if either of the parties gives its ticket to the South East, it would be difficult for the zone to win.

He noted that the zone must remain united to achieve it, stressing that as the only surviving member of the First Republic government, the Federal Government should respect his age and allow him to help make peace before returning to his maker.

Amaechi said he visited Ebonyi to brief Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, Dave Umahi, on the outcome of the visit of some Igbo leaders to President Muhammadu Buhari on efforts of Igbo leaders to bring lasting peace to the South East, which has been ravaged by agitations of separatist groups.

He said Buhari was happy to receive the Igbo leaders, adding that they had frank, sincere and useful deliberations aimed at finding lasting peace and true reconciliation in the zone.
Meanwhile, the Northern Christian Forum (NCF) has congratulated the winner of the Anambra State governorship election, Prof. Charles Soludo.

President of the forum, Pastor Averson Andrew, delivered the congratulatory message yesterday in Awka during an interactive session with journalists.

Andrew, who was accompanied by some of his officials, described the All Progressives Grand Alliance’s (APGA) victory, as divinely arranged, saying that the battles of life were neither for the swiftest nor the strongest.

He expressed appreciation to the Anambra people for being a good host to the sojourners in the state, stressing that they were made to feel at home through their hospitality.