BY EDITOR
A former Ebonyi State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Hon. Charles Akpu-Enika, has cautioned the Igbo against accepting any political arrangement that would limit the South-East's opportunity to produce Nigeria's president to a single four-year tenure, urging the people to embrace strategic alliances and long-term political calculations.
Akpu-Enika, who spoke against the backdrop of the recent engagement between the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and members of the Abakaliki urban community, commended the minister for what he described as his consistent advocacy of political wisdom, national inclusion and strategic positioning for the South-East.
The former commissioner, popularly known as the "Game Changer" in Ebonyi political circles, said Umahi's message underscored the need for Ndigbo to look beyond immediate political sentiments and prioritise arrangements capable of guaranteeing sustained political relevance and equitable participation in national governance.
He expressed reservations about any proposal that would guarantee an Igbo president only four years in office, arguing that such an arrangement would not provide sufficient time to implement far-reaching policies, consolidate national influence and advance the development aspirations of the South-East.
"Four years will not be adequate for an Igbo president to make meaningful national impact and consolidate the political gains of the South-East. Ndigbo should think strategically about their long-term political interests.
"Anything short of eight years for an Igbo presidency is not acceptable and not in the best interest of Ndigbo. We should not be unwise to accept a political arrangement that offers an Igbo president only four years," he said.
Akpu-Enika cited the experience of former Anambra State Governor, Mr Peter Obi, arguing that even eight years in office might not be sufficient to accomplish every development objective of a state chief executive, let alone the broader responsibilities associated with governing the country.
He maintained that political arrangements should be guided by practical considerations, continuity and the need to create sufficient room for delivering on electoral promises rather than being driven by the immediate attraction of occupying the nation's highest political office.
The former commissioner further argued that Nigeria's six geopolitical zones must be considered in any long-term presidential power-sharing calculation.
According to him, if the South-East accepts a four-year presidential arrangement, the other five geopolitical zones could collectively occupy the presidency for another 40 years before the region gets another opportunity.
He therefore urged Ndigbo to build broader political alliances across the country, cultivate relationships with other geopolitical zones and develop a sustainable national political strategy capable of advancing the region's interests.
Akpu-Enika also commended Umahi's contributions to infrastructure development in the South-East, particularly the improvement of road connectivity between Ebonyi and neighbouring states.
He recalled that travelling from Abakaliki to Anambra previously took as long as five hours, but said the journey had been reduced to approximately one hour and 30 minutes following improvements in road infrastructure.
He also highlighted improvements along the Enugu-Aba/Umuahia corridor and other major routes linking the South-East with different parts of the country.
The former commissioner attributed the development strides to the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, noting that the appointment of Umahi as Minister of Works had provided an opportunity to advance infrastructure development across the region.
He equally commended Umahi for what he described as his inclusive approach to governance during his tenure as governor of Ebonyi State, particularly the appointment of people from Anambra State and other parts of the South-East into strategic government positions.
According to him, Umahi appointed several Anambra indigenes as commissioners, special assistants, board members and senior technical assistants, while providing opportunities for non-indigenes to participate in governance.
Akpu-Enika specifically praised the minister's insistence on unity and peaceful coexistence among residents of Abakaliki, irrespective of their states of origin.
He said Umahi demonstrated the principle of inclusiveness during his recent engagement with the urban community, where he urged residents to embrace brotherhood and reject discrimination based on ethnic or state affiliations.
The former commissioner also recalled that the minister directed a minute's silence in honour of Mmesoma, an Anambra-born girl reportedly killed by her former boyfriend, describing the gesture as a demonstration of compassion and solidarity.
He further thanked President Tinubu for giving Umahi the opportunity to contribute to the transformation of infrastructure in the South-East, while urging political leaders and stakeholders in the region to adopt a broader national outlook.
Akpu-Enika maintained that the political future of Ndigbo should not be determined by sentiment or the immediate prospect of securing the presidency but by deliberate engagement, strategic alliances and arrangements that guarantee meaningful participation in Nigeria's political leadership.
He cited Tinubu's political trajectory as an example of the importance of sustained political networking, alliance-building and engagement beyond one's immediate ethnic constituency.
According to him, the President spent years building political relationships across the country and cultivating alliances before securing the presidency, stressing that the South-East must similarly develop a coherent and far-reaching political strategy.
"We honestly need strategic thinking and must not make any mistake at this critical moment. I appreciate my brother's interest in becoming president, but not under a four-year arrangement.
"We must be realistic. Tinubu spent years building bridges, supporting political interests across regions and establishing relationships before his ambition materialised. He did not rely exclusively on Yoruba votes to become president," he said.
He urged political leaders, traditional rulers, opinion moulders and other stakeholders in the South-East to place the region's long-term political interests above immediate partisan considerations.
