THE results of the Presidential and National Assembly elections have raised questions on the politics of Ndigbo and their future political roadmap. In this report, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, examines how Ndigbo played the 2015 politics, the likely effect of the emergence of APC as the federal ruling party on the fortunes of the race and some of the new political leaders that seem set to take the front seat in the political leadership of Ndigbo in the coming years
Tomorrow, Monday, April 13, 2015, most of the Igbo political leaders and elders will gather in Enugu, Enugu State capital, to deliberate on the outcome of the 2015 general elections and the future political roadmap of Ndigbo.
The meeting, according to an insider source, will among others, take a critical look at the way Ndigbo played the 2015 politics, the results of the presidential, National Assembly and state elections and how they will impact on the political fortunes of Ndigbo in the near future.
Already, some analysts, making reference to Ndigbo’s massive support for President Goodluck Jonathan and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) both at the presidential and National Assembly elections and the emergence of All Progressives Congress (APC)’s candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, as the President-elect, have concluded that Ndigbo may have lost out of the power game as it has never done before in its political history.
While observers are still debating the likely effect of the current political realities to the fortunes of Ndigbo, most of them agree that the emergence of APC as the ruling party at the centre is bound to change the politics of Ndigbo. For example, it is agreed that since PDP still dominates the South-East zone, Ndigbo has suddenly switched to the opposition camp, which according Chief Israel Udenma, has never happened since independence.
Udenma told The Nation that there is nothing wrong with the idea of being in the opposition. “The worry here is whether our people can or are willing to play the opposition politics? The South-West Yoruba, who have mastered the art, have succeeded in winning the centre. This shows that if you play the role of opposition well, you will one day win and lead the nation. It is a lesson Ndigbo must learn today. Also, we all know that a democratic culture cannot present the best unless it grew in the midst of robust opposition. Opposition is therefore very important in order to hold the ruling party to account,” he said.
As soon as the result of the presidential election was announced, many feared that all the Igbo political leaders in PDP will immediately decamp to APC because of their alleged unwillingness or inability to play the role of opposition.
But many of the Igbo PDP chieftains and other Igbo political leaders have since declared their intention to remain in their party and help rebuild it to a virile opposition.
Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, for example, made it clear he would not defect to APC despite the defeat of President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP in the March 28 elections. While advising Ndigbo to cooperate with the Muhammadu Buhari’s government at a stakeholders meeting in his Enugu West home, Ekweremadu said he will not decamp from PDP.
“Ndigbo has nothing against Muhammadu Buhari, so the Igbo would cooperate with him in line with our regional agenda and for the development of Nigeria,” he said adding that Ndigbo would support him to succeed because he would be President of all Nigerians.
The senator, who was reelected on PDP ticket said, “I have read and listened to many lament what they regard as the Southeast misadventure in view of the emerging scenario at the federal level. But let me assure you that Ndigbo have done nothing to be ashamed of. We owe no one apology for voting PDP.
“For me, this is instead a defining moment for Ndigbo because we spoke with one voice and we are proud of our electoral decision. We took a principled position and take full responsibility of the political choice. I have read statements credited to some opposition elements on how the Southeast and the PDP will be overrun in the governorship election.
“This is wishful thinking. They have not taken cognisance of the history of the PDP and the fact that Ndigbo, as personified by elder statesman and former Vice President Dr Alex Ekwueme played a leading role in forming the PDP.
“By the emerging scenario and as far as the Southeast is concerned, PDP is only coming home to roost.”
All Progressive Grand Alliance’s Chief Victor Umeh, in his reaction also appealed to the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), not to vilify Ndigbo for not voting massively for him during the Presidential poll.
At a press conference in Umuahia, the Abia State capital, Umeh said the massive support Ndigbo gave to President Goodluck Jonathan was based on the conviction of the people that Jonathan represented hope for their political future.
He therefore said Buhari should not see Ndigbo as his enemies. “We are not against Buhari but were only pursuing our political interest.
“We were looking for somebody who would help Ndigbo recover from the ruins of the civil war. Jonathan convened a national conference and we felt that the report of the conference would address most of the injustices against Ndigbo; that was why we followed him.
“But now that the election is won and lost we should not be seen as enemies. We hope God will still use Buhari to address our many challenges. He should adopt the report of the conference.”
Future roadmap
Investigation conducted by The Nation since after the presidential polls shows that PDP is bound to loss its overwhelming influence in the region. Though some influential politicians from the zone, who has benefitted immensely from the party are determined to stay put and rebuild it, the emergence of APC at the centre will not only lead to rapid growth of APC in the zone but also the growth of other parties like APGA and the Labour Party, which is currently very popular in Ebonyi State.
Commenting on this development Umeh said in a press conference, “All hope was not lost for Ndigbo politically as APGA would provide the tribe with the opportunity to be re-integrated into national politics.
He, therefore, called for the people of South-East to help in reviving APGA by voting massively for all its candidates at yesterday’s governorship and House of Assembly polls to serve as a political platform to advance the cause of the Igbo nation.
Chief Maxi Okwu, who is still at the Supreme Court over the leadership of APGA also commented on the plan to rebuild APGA. “We have to rebrand APGA and use it as a credible platform,” he told The Nation during the week. Okwu, a former presidential candidate in Nigeria, dismissed claims that Ndigbo cannot play the role of opposition. “It is not true that Ndigbo cannot play the opposition politics. Some of us have been in opposition for over 23 years. Look at the true father of change; he has been in opposition all along. Today, he has led his people to win the centre. To me, what the APC’s victory has achieved for us all is the beginning of true democracy. Until APC’s victory at the centre, what we had in Nigeria has been civil rule. But that does not mean that PDP should die. No. If PDP dies, democracy will suffer. We need robust opposition,” he said.
Ndigbo
