BY NATIONAL PANEL REPORTERS
Dr Augustine Nwazunku.
A Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ebonyi State, Dr Augustine Nwazunku Alugbala has declared interest to join the 2023 governorship race.
Nwazunku who was the Emeritus Executive Secretary, Ebonyi State Agency for Control of AIDS, EBOSACA made this declaration at his residential compound, at Ntezi-Aba Village, in Nkaleke Echara Unuhu Community, Ebonyi LGA, Abakaliki town while interacting with newsmen.
The guber aspirant said he would not go back from his declaration to contest the governorship position under his party platform in 2023 elections.
He said that producing a consensus candidate remains a contending issue now in Izhi land, in considering the political permutations in the state.
Nwazunku asked his party faithfuls especially those from Izhi land to allow God to guide them on the issue of having a consensus candidate before the primary and general elections.
"For the Izhi Consensus Governor, it must come, but all of us have a role to play in this race. God will sign the final signature, and the Nigeria politics, South East politics, will continue to work out for better including our state.
"In politics, it's not over until it is over. If you go into religion, for God who searcheth and knoweth the heart of men, doeth what pleases Him. So, in my declaration, there's no going back for governorship position come 2023."
Nwazunku, the immediate past President, IPP, of Abakaliki Recreation Club, of the State further observed that the Bible has given a guide on how to produce a consensus candidate in Izhi land.
"The Christian Bible says, brethren let's reason together, in Izhi dialect, we say let's be careful not to forcefully collect food from a domestic dog and throw it to the wild fox.
"Birth right is a grace from God. In terms of Ebonyi State governorship by 2023, we know it is democracy, and it's politics, it cannot be seen as the birthright that belongs to Izhi as a people.
"But Igbo dictium says, eme nwata ka emere ibeya, obi adi ya ree and a dying man says my children whatever you see that belongs to all of you, please don't struggle over it behind me.
"It's because in the cause of you trying to struggle over it, you may injure one another, but rather discuss over any and all contending issues
"Currently by 2023, it's not a birthright for Ndu Izhi to produce the governor of Ebonyi State, but by practice of equity and justice; it is now the right of Ndu Izhi to produce the governor.
"So, the big question now is, can Ndu Izhi produce a consensus candidate? This is a big question and task. Nigeria is not a one party system and Ebonyi inclusive. If you look at this tips from your bigger eyes, by using the third eyes in looking at it.
"If Izhi people should come up and say they will produce Augustine Nwazunku as a consenus candidate, if every Izhi man agrees, all izzi people who are obviously not members of one political party may have to circumvent been accused of anti-party activities but should prioritize "human State" interest over party and personal interests. Essentially, not all Izhi man belong to the same political party.
"Consensus action is a core practice of Izhi people and is attained by handling their issues to God. Power belongs to God. Izhi people have their absolute trust in God of their realization, the same God and they have established ways they do it. When they have not had enough clarity on how to do it, they go into "divination", they continue to trust in and ask God".
"I have been able to interact with the custodians of Izhi traditions and cultures, the Izhi guardians, who are well versed in things of the spirit.
"They are aware that there is no independent candidature in Nigeria. One needs their blessings but subseqent to one's receipt of his/her guber primary ticket of the party. However, their salient decision remains that it must not just be any "Izhi born," it must be one who has the capacity to advance Izhi progress and embrace all inhabitants of Ebonyi State and nurture the united interest of all with zero discrimination/ stigmatisation. That's the one Izhi man that the custodians of Izhi traditions and amiable trait shall support for governor.
"How Izhi people will produce their candidate is through consultation with the good people of Ebonyi State and the god of Izhi land by the elders of the land, before a seal with oaths for a consensus after the parties' primaries, when all the flag bearers are respectively all elected".
"Now the issue is this, no masquruade wears itself. This issue of governorship is not a one man show, but the issue is this, tell your people, ask them to send me on an errand to represent them and serve the entire Ebonyi State," he said.
The former EBOSACA scribe noted that though the contest for the upcoming transitional government headship might be tough but with surety of the good people of Izhi producing a consensus candidate would summount every opposition and threats to izhi governorship aspiration; and thus, said 'for a truth tomorrow must be better than today in Ebonyi State."
