#Nigeriadecides
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Ndigbo Lagos and other Igbo-socio-cultural associations are congratulating Muhammadu Buhari, president-elect over his victory on the March 28 presidential election
| By Maureen Chigbo | April 13, 2015 @ 0:1 GMT
NDIGBO-LAGOS, the apex body of South-East States Town-Unions and other Igbo socio-cultural associations in Lagos, have congratulated General Muhammadu Buhari, president-elect, on his victory at the March 28, presidential polls. A statement issued on April 3, and signed by Anya O. Anya, president-general, Ndigbo-Lagos, and Chuma Igwe, director, Communications Strategy, made available to Realnews, noted with satisfaction the peaceful conduct of the 2015 Presidential and National Assembly elections
“We wish to seize this opportunity to congratulate you on your victory as the president-elect of the federal republic of Nigeria. We particularly commend you on your doggedness, persistence and states-manly candor in your pursuit of your
presidential ambition since 2003. The fact that you finally won in your fourth consecutive attempt is a life-lesson to young Nigerians who tend to be frustrated by the vicissitudes of life,” the statement said.
It said: “As we congratulate you, we wish that you note that it is on record, that Ndigbo-Lagos on February 1, 2015, through the national media, endorsed the candidacy of President Goodluck Jonathan as our choice for the purpose of the 2015 Presidential election. In that publication, we stated clearly that having studied the manifestos and promises of the candidates that those of President Goodluck Jonathan responded better to the critical issues and challenges bedeviling the Igbo nation and indeed the growth, stability and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria. In specific terms, we noted “that the lack of equity, fairness and justice arising from the current political structure of Nigeria is the foundation of the many ills that have bedeviled our country over the years”.
Ndigbo said that in convoking the 2014 National Conference (which APC boycotted) and forwarding its resolution to the National Assembly, President Jonathan appeared to have a better response to the new Nigeria we wish for. “We further stated in our endorsement document of President Jonathan that “the outcomes of the conference include the creation of additional states within or from the South-East to give equity to the Igbo nation; creation of more states to give voice to the minorities; rotation of the presidential powers between the North and South and among the six geopolitical zones; the abolition of the local government as direct charge of the federal government; the creation of state police for a more effective fight against crime; a step towards return to the derivation principle and fiscal federalism; a foundation for regional structure; the lifting of immunity clause covering political office holders from criminal accusations; abolition of pilgrimage sponsorship by government agencies, amongst others”.
“Since the deliberations at that National Conference were devoid of acrimony and the outcome a product of a Nationalities’ consensus, it is critical that you progress its adoption into a Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Your Excellency, while the voting pattern across the geographical zones exploited the weaknesses of our ethnic fault-lines, it is a clear expression of the challenges that you would need to confront. You will require as a statesman to see Nigeria as a single constituency of yours, taking full cognizance of our diversity and for you to urgently begin the building of bridges across nationalities to ensure that Nigeria grows as a Federation united with common aspiration. The mindset of “winner takes all” and divisive rhetoric should be discouraged by your administration. As history beckons on you to write your name in gold, Ndigbo-Lagos wishes you the best and hopes that at the conclusion of this your term in office, there will emerge a truly federal Nigeria in which the Igbo-nation and other federating nations will now have quality infrastructure, equitable federal investment, a more secure country that is economically strong with better values and higher democratic credentials. We wish you well and pledge our willingness to work actively with your government to ensure a successful tenure,” Ndigbo said.
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Tags: #Nigeriadecides Anya O. Anya Gen Muhammadu Buhari Ndigbo Lagos President Goodluck Jonathan
