The only surviving nationalist, first republic Minister of
Aviation, and a member of the Zikist Movement, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi, has
called for the renegotiation of the unity of Nigeria to bring about equity for
all.
The 91 years old former minister spoke yesterday at a press
conference organised by Global Movement for Igbo Presidency (GLOMIP) at his
home in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, where the
group called on him to lend his voice to the call for Igbo Presidency.
Amaechi insisted that nothing was unnegotiable, including
the unity of Nigeria, especially if the negotiation will bring about equity and
equality, and also quell agitations by parts of the country.
Amaechi said, “Whatever concerns the betterment of Nigeria,
I will always take part in it. I’m the only surviving member of our set.
“We know how hard we fought to achieve independence for
Nigeria, and up till today, I still look forward to a better Nigeria. Whatever
concerns Nigeria, I will not take a backseat, that is why I accepted when I was
told to be a part of this press conference by GLOMIP.
“I am one of those who fought for independence. I suffered
incarceration, and apart from being a member of NCNC, I was a member of the
Zikist movement, the radical wing of the party. I have been in prison many
times because of the independence of Nigeria and my first imprisonment was at
the age of 21.
“There is a need to come together and renegotiate the basis
of our unity for equity sake. This part of the country (South east) has been
marginalized for too long. Only renegotiation will quell the agitations by some
people in the country.”
Going back memory lane, the nationalist said, “We the Zikist
Movement always went in and out of prison those days, and I remember that each
time someone came out of prison, we organized a reception for him and in the
midst of that, we always gave out white caps to them with the inscription – PG,
meaning, Prison Graduate, and we always wore it with pride to public places,
even in motorparks.
“I remember that we fought this fight without any ulterior
motive. It was after independence that someone recommended me for minister,
saying that I suffered too much in the struggle. That was how I became the
youngest minister of the first republic.
“In 1966, the military struck, and from one military head to
another for 38 years, and Nigeria became a stinking cesspool of corruption.
There is need to salvage the country and we pray whoever can salvage her, let
God throw him up in 2023.”
Leader GLOMIP, Mr Kennedy Iyere who addressed journalists
said the solution Nigeria is looking for is with the Igbos, and that someone
from the zone needs to be given the chance to fix the country.
“Nigeria deserves a better country than what we have today,
and we know that. The reason for the formation of this group is to drive the
Igbo Presidency, and we know that our Daddy (Amaechi) will be alive to see it
happen in 2023.”
Also speaking, former minister of women’s affairs, Mrs
Josephine Anenih said that the group is not only asking for an Igbo man to be
president, but that the Igbo man must come from the South east zone.
“That president must not only come from Igbo land, but he
must come from the South east. That zone that has been long denied everything
good, that zone that has been decimated and neglected, that is where the
president must come from.
“That is why each time I hear people say Igbo president, I
try to correct them that it is not just Igbo president, but Igbo president of
South east extraction for Nigeria. That president will not be a president for
Igbo people only or for people of the South east, but an Igbo man, who is from
the South east to become president for Nigeria,” she stated.
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