Tanko Yakasai, a founding member of the Arewa Consultative Forum has said that the South East needs to do more if the region really desires to take the reins come 2023.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Newsnight on Monday, the elder statesman was of the opinion that there is something lacking in the way the Southeastern region is treating the quest for the presidency in the next general election.

According to Mr. Yakasai, the missing ingredient in the South East’s drive to lead the country in 2023, is the dearth of constructive engagement with other regions.

“I am a strong supporter of a president from the South after Buhari and also if he can come from the South East no problem; I will support it.

“The quarrel is that this is not something that you just stay at home and think that people will come to your house to dash it to you.

“You have to show interest, you have to be serious, you have to try to convince people that you are really up to the task.

“This is what in my opinion is missing in the South East,” the politician asserted.

In his viewpoint, there is a desire shown by the region as regards getting the presidency but the people are not exerting their position to manifest their desire and to convince other people.

The rights activist also opined that there is a certain uncertainty in Nigeria about the position of the South East especially because of the region’s handling of Nnamdi Kanu and his ideas.

“There is doubt because this Nnamdi Kanu whom ordinarily would not be a good candidate for the governorship of any of the southeastern states is now claiming the attention and support of prominent people in the South East,” Mr. Yakasai stressed.

According to him, the attention given to Kanu within the region is stirring doubt and causing people to wonder if truly the South East is ready to produce a credible candidate that would serve Nigeria with all his/her heart.

The elder statesman advised that though the card lays now on the desk of the South Easterners, the region must try to reach out to garner support for its goal to be achieved when the polls come around.

Channels TV

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Nwabueze Ngige, has urged warring members of the Anambra State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to sheath their sword as leaders of the party and work together for a solution.

Recall that the party which had boasted to take over power from the ruling APGA in the November 6 governorship election lost woefully.

Ngige in a statement by his Media Office, said, the Minister who is the leader of the Party in the state, however, advised the embattled Acting State Chairman of the Party, Basil Ejidike not to “ invent a Trojan Horse but look inwards and manage the self-inflicted tear in the State Exco and Working Committee of the Party which has seen many members haemorrhaging.

“ Senator Chris Ngige has been inundated with calls from his home state, over the unfortunate development in the State Chapter of our great party, APC, culminating in the suspension of the Acting State Chairman. All these are the fallout of the 26th June 2021 heist in which though no primary election was held, the Acting Chairman in concert with some persons who did not wish our state chapter well, announced some allocated, fictitious figures for each of the 13 aspirants and declared a winner. The situation simmered, festered and resulted in the loss of the governorship election.

“The Minister had watched these developments with disbelief and consternation because this is not the style of the original APC members in Anambra State over the years .

“Nigerians are aware of the unceasing post-COVID-19 efforts of the Federal Government to stabilize the labour milieu and buoy national productivity, hence the Minister of Labour and Employment daily battles with very tight schedules, to spare even scant thought for the post-election intrigues in his state chapter of the party.

“Despite that, Senator Ngige wishes to assure all members that issues in contention will soon be laid to rest as the critical state stakeholders of the party in the State, will shortly work towards their resolution.

“ While we do this, however, the embattled Acting State Chairman, Basil Ejidike is advised to wrap his mind around the self-made fissure in the State Working Committee and work towards a resolution by first telling himself the truth. Creating a phantom Trojan Horse to explain away self-inflicted injury is unthinking.

“I once again urge all members to refrain from acts that can wreak further damage on the party and rather look inwards to make up our losses. The party lives beyond the November 6 governorship election. Other tasks of even greater magnitude with huge benefits lay ahead of us as we approach the 2023 general elections.