by Mudiaga Affe
President Goodluck Jonathan
The All Progressives Congress National Vice-Chairman (South-South), Mr. Hilliard Eta, has asked the people of the zone to shun ethnic sentiment as they consider who becomes the country’s President in 2015.
He said the call was imperative because the zone had nothing concrete to show as the benefit of having Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as President.
Eta told the party’s stakeholders on Wednesday in Calabar, Cross River State, that it was better for the people to think of a new agenda for development than being consumed with agitation for a South-South president.
According to him, rather than experience real development, the zone had witnessed depletion in its development index.
He added that this was informed by the lack of political will on the part of the central government to prioritise the development of the area.
The National Vice-Chairman said, “What the South-South people should consider at the moment is how well to increase its development index and not a renewed agitation for a president from the zone when the first experiment has failed in the development of the zone.
“The South-South people would have to decide whether they prefer ethnic sentiment or a new agenda for development for them.
“There is a power plant project that was built by a Yoruba man. We have a port that was built by an Hausa-man. Amnesty was granted by an Hausa man. So, let the South-South point to one thing we have benefitted in our hot pursuit for a South-South President.”
Eta,who described those agitating for a president from the zone as sycophants and apologists, added that the APC would continue to ask the people to have a rethink before the 2015 general elections.
He said, “Though the challenge of victory for us as a party in the zone is enormous but we will make the South-South a battle field where we will do battle against depleting values, depleting education , depletion in job and wealth creation and so on.”
He said that the outcomes of the 2015 polls would shock bookmakers.
