Former President General of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Dozie Ikedife, has hailed the current mass exodus of many Igbo political heavyweight into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) from their erstwhile parties, especially the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) saying it is a welcome development for the interest of the people of the zone.

Speaking to journalists at his country home of Nnewi, he observed that the current status of the people of the zone in the country's political power chess-board demanded that they align with the party in order to be relevant.

Ikedife said that the mass exodus of many major political players into APC is a good strategy that would remedy the political marginalisation.

The former Ohaneze chieftain stated: “Today, APC is holding sway at the federal level as well as many states of the federation, in other words, the APC is holding the yam and the knife.

“I want to think, and, I believe that these people moving into APC from other parties are

not doing so because of food is ready politics, or stomach infrastructure but they are doing so in their honest belief that the future of the people from the South East is probably better in APC. PDP is a grounded ship.

“It is not really a matter of what you get or where you get it from, if as it appears we do not get fair consideration in PDP or APC, and APGA has some limitations, then the option becomes clear – self determination for the people of the old Eastern region.”

On the recent coming together of the South east Governors to resume the South East Governors’ forum, the Ohanaeze chieftain said that the interest of the entire people of the South east geo- political zone should be the guiding principle of the respective Governors of the states, rather than their personal interests.

He observed that the current conducts of the Governors in the South east geo-political zone fell below expectations.

“My assessment is; the current posturing of the Governors of the South East falls short of expectations. We particularly expected synergetic and harmonious co-operation amongst them for over all interest of the people of the South east geo-political zone.

“The elected governors of the states should look at, and work for the interest of the South - east and Nigeria. This should be the guiding principles, not only to focus on their states or winning elections in their states.

“The people of the South east should also work towards being united in the eyes of the rest of Nigeria. If that is the case, people at the helm of affairs should equally see themselves as comrades in arms. There is an Igbo saying “Onye gburu Nwanne ya aburo dike” meaning, “Anybody who kills his brother can never be declared a hero.”

“No doubt if they speak with one voice, they will certainly achieve more in the geo- political zone but if they continue to give the impression to the outside world that they are not meeting or consulting each other, whatever each person says will be regarded as his personal opinion.”

Ikedife however, stressed that the attitude of challenging each other’s statement in the open shows lack of harmony, co-operation and mutual respect saying that it will not help the zone.

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