The Rivers State chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), has declared that power should be moved to the Southern part of Nigeria.
IPAC has also called on the electorate to vote en masse for a candidate from the South in the Saturday presidential election.
Secretary of IPAC, Prince Omangima Harry, who read the communique on Thursday, said the decision of the group was not political, but for equity, fairness, and justice.
IPAC in the communique captioned ‘Equity and Nationhood’, said the decision was fundamental and intrinsic to the stability, progress, and growth of the nation and more importantly, nationhood.
‘On the 25th of February 2023, our Nation heads to the polls for its 7th General Electoral exercise since the advent our democracy in 1999.
‘As a matter of course, it becomes a test of the ties that bind us as a nation, and a referendum on the strength and quality of our governance and leadership values.’
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‘The quality of these values have been made somewhat easier and intrinsic by ensuring stability in the polity through equity and inclusiveness. This has always been made manifest through some conscious rotation of power via a fundamental rotation acknowledgement for the apex office of the land.’
IPAC noted: ‘In a public spirited and ungrudging effort, leaders of Southern extraction met and agreed that to maintain the values that have held the nation together thus far, it was imperative that power be subsequently rotated to the Southern part of the country, in keeping with the fundamentals that bind us as a nation, and to further deepen the ambience of equity and inclusiveness.
‘This congregation was devoid of political party interests, as the demographic of these leaders cut across all party lines.
‘The final and fundamental consensus reached was, and remains that power should be moved to the South of the country, through the support and ceding of the apex political office in our land to an individual of Southern constitution.
‘The Inter party Advisory Council (IPAC)- Rivers State Chapter considers this decision, both fundamental and intrinsic to the
stability, progress, and growth of our nation and more importantly, our nationhood.
‘To this end, The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC)- Rivers State Chapter, urges and encourages the electorate to vote overwhelmingly for a Candidate of Southern extraction during the polls on Saturday the 25th of February, 2023.
‘This decision that should be attained through the ballot in a fair, free, and credible process will maintain and strengthen the fundamentals that will ensure the progress of our nations’ march towards an equitable and inclusive nation where being Nigerian becomes the most important ethos that binds us together.
‘The Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC)- Rivers State Chapter, therefore strongly urges all citizens come out en-masse to Vote without fear or favour for a Candidate of Southern extraction in decorous, safe, and secure manner.
‘Finally, it is pertinent to note that despite the fact that we represent various political vehicles, our position is not in any way political, but a glaring reflection of the socio-human considerations of our state and country.’
Africa Today News, New York reports that the elections will be happening in less than 24 hours.