Southern Leaders to Nigerians: Vote Jonathan for equity, fairness, justice

Full text of the Communique of the 5th General Conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) in Enugu, on Tuesday, January 20, 2014.

THE 5th General Conference of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly (SNPA) was held at Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu on Tuesday, 20th January, 2015. 

  Chaired by the Host Chairman, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Leader of the South East), the meeting had in attendance Chief Edwin K. Clark, CON (Co-Chair and Leader of the South-South) and Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, representing Bishop Emmanuel Gbonigi (Co-Chair and Leader of the South West).

  The Conference, which was well-attended with over 200 delegates, had the following very prominent leaders and elders: Chief Mbazulike Amechi; Admiral Akin Aduwo; Prof. Ihechukwu Madubike; Sen. Akinfenwa Mojisoluwa; Sen. Bassey Ewa Henshaw; Dr. Kunle Olajide; Sir Mike Okiro; Prof. Uche Azikiwe; Her Excellency Dame Virgy Etiaba, CON; His Excellency, Sen. Adolf Wabara; Her Excellency, Sen. Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; and Prof. Anya O. Anya. 

  Also present were Sen. (Dr.) Femi Okurounmu; Dame (Dr.) Esther Uduehi; AVM Larry Koinyan; Dr. Tim Menakaya; Dr. Dozie Ikedife; Rt. Hon Tunde Akogun; His Excellency Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife CON; and Rt. Hon. Agunwa Anakwe. 

  Royal Fathers in attendance include: HRM Eze Cletus Ilomuanya, Chairman South East Council of Traditional Rulers; HRH Igwe Amb. L.O.C. Agubuzu; HRH Eze Ozobu; Chief Gary Igariwei (President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo); HRM King Alfred Diete-Spiff; HRM Oba Adeyemi Adediran (Owamiran of Esa Oke) and HRM Oba Elizah O. Oyelade (Salu of Edunabon) representing the Ooni of Ife.

  The Conference deliberated on the current socio-political and economic situation in the country, particularly the national elections scheduled for the 14th and 28th February, 2015 as well as the unending Boko Haram terrorist activities in the North Eastern part of the country, amongst others and noted that: 

1) The continued escalation of the Boko Haram activities close to 2015 general election is unhealthy to the unity and stability of the country.

2) The unfortunate post-election massacre of innocent Nigerians in parts of the North in 2011 and its portending danger in 2015.

3) The report by the leadership of the attempt by INEC to create 30,000 additional polling units, which would have given the North an undue electoral advantage, which is only being temporarily suspended.

4) The distribution of Permanent Voters’ Cards appear to have given the North advantage over the South, as over 12 million PVCs have been given to the North West alone.

5) The need to expand the frontiers of cooperation beyond Southern Nigeria for the peace, unity and progress of the country.

6) There has always been an orchestrated attack on Presidents/Heads of State of Southern Nigeria origin, leading to massive protests and destruction of life and property in the North simply because it is the thinking of the Northern oligarchy that power must continue to reside in the North.

7) The problems of Nigeria predated the emergence of President Jonathan’s administration and he has demonstrated passion and commitment in addressing them through his transformation agenda.

8) The convocation of the National Conference by President Jonathan in response to our collective calls shows that he is a President with a listening ear who wants the good, betterment, stability and progress of the country.

  Accordingly, the Conference resolves as follows:

a. Nigerians are full of expectations that the resolutions of the National Conference will be faithfully implemented to resolve the continuing contradictions in the Nigerian polity and lay a solid foundation for a more just, more equitable society in which all can have equal sense of belonging. 

b. All attempts by INEC to resurrect the implementation of the 30,000 additional polling units shall be vehemently resisted.

c. That the South shall resist any attempt to employ violence to kill innocent Nigerians on account of the outcome of 2015 general elections.

d. That the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly do hereby unanimously endorse President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s quest for re-election as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the February14, 2015 presidential election. We therefore call on all discerning Nigerians to vote massively for President Jonathan, as that would ensure equity, fairness, and justice.

e. That the decision to endorse President Jonathan is based on thorough assessment of his manifest strides and achievements in the past three and half years as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

f. That a Think-Tank of the Assembly should be empowered by the leadership of SNPA to commence the task of advocacy before and after the 2015 general elections.

  Long Live Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly!

  Long Live Federal Republic of Nigeria!

  Signed for and on Behalf of the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly:

• His Excellency, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, GCON……… Coordinating Chairman/Leader of South East.

• Chief Edwin K. Clark, CON……… Co-Chair/Leader of South-South.

• Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu……… Leader of the South West.