Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, the immediate past Minister of State for Education and a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, has explained why he did not participate in the party’s presidential primary.
He was the first cabinet member to resign his position in order to pursue his presidential aspiration, and he was one of 28 presidential contenders who purchased the presidential candidacy form.
Bola Tinubu, the leader of the APC, emerged victorious with 1,271 votes; far ahead of Rotimi Amaechi, a former Transport Minister, who polled 371 votes.
In a statement he personally signed on Wednesday, June 7, and captioned “Statement of Appreciation and Thanksgiving,” Nwajiuba said that his absence was due to alleged “marginalization of the South-East.”
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The statement read;
I am issuing this statement after a careful review of our campaign for the presidential ticket of the APC.
My approach to the Nigeria presidency is hinged on being able to present a progressive vision of an inclusive, united and focused brand of energy to transform Nigeria into a wholesome economic powerhouse, whose citizens will be better secured to live more fulfilling.
I and almost all other aspirants agreed to a consensus approach to the selection of our candidate, to effectively maintain the outlook of a progressive family, away from an all for money by highest bidder image, which had already been assigned to another political party.
Nwajiuba further revealed how stakeholders held discussions in order to ensure the emergence of a presidential candidate from the South-East.
The former Minister continued;
I and other aspirants now of the southeast, wrote the leadership of our party to appreciate the commitment to move the presidential ticket to the south, and requested a further deepening to the southeast to reflect our primary reason for seeking the office, which remains, “to build a more united and inclusive secured and prosperous nation.”
This much has been captured in the communique south east aspirants issued on 22nd May, the speeches of Mr. President at his meetings with APC Governors, that of aspirants and of stakeholders.
Following the failure of all these entreaties, it became clear that the convention was headed away from these lofty ideals I subscribe to and will still pursue. I, therefore, declined to attend.
These ideals reflected in what some of the southeast aspirants who choose to attend referred to in their pleas for justice or need to constitutionally require it, in the face of the absence of conscience.
Even their elderly wailing on national television could not move a vote, if I had shouted same in a more youthful voice, it may have become inciteful in face of our current security difficulties in the southeast and may thus spite our efforts. Better to stay out.
I am committed to pursuing the ideals of a more united, inclusively secured prosperous nation for us all, lending to our dear country, its citizens and those who may be positioned to use it, the experiences acquired, lessons learnt, and the various matrix that I may bring to bear.
