paddy_lo why lie. see what the newspaper say igbos refuse to endorses jonathan, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is a federal government contractor, i was in the plane with him many years ago on my way to abuja. He was going to secure contract from the government. And was  discussing with a northerner and telling him about the contract, this is how I know Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is a federal government contractor.  So you can not use Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu as the voice of igbo people. he talks base on his business. as far as a business man is concern. All igbo people can go and die and jump into the river as long as jonathan sign his contract. so that not fair.

what the federal government does is that they make you a contractor, so that your bread and butter is from them , that way , you would alway support them. Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu lifes depend on the federal govt of nigeria.

Ekwueme, Anyim, Nnamani, Govs boycott Igbo summit
•Amechi, summit convener, endorses Jonathan
By Emmanuel Nzomiwu, Reporter, Enugu

Nearly all South East political bigwigs boycotted the Igbo summit convened in Enugu on Monday to factor the zone into the national political equation being calculated for the election in 2011, particularly the highest office in the land, the Presidency.

However, the absence of the Igbo political elite did not deter the summit from endorsing Goodluck Jonathan for President.

Among the absentees are former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme; former Senate Presidents, Anyim Pius Anyim and Ken Nnamani; former House of Representatives Speakers, incumbent federal lawmakers, retired Justices and political party Chairmen from the zone.

But for former Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, and Ofia Nwali who attended, all former Governors and Senators did not turn up, in spite of the wide publicity given the summit.

Those present included the Chairman/Convener, Mbazulike Amechi, Maxwell Anikwenwa, Emeka Ojukwu (Jnr), Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, and Hycinth Ohazuluike. 

Opening the summit, Amechi reiterated that zoning or no zoning, by April this year, the North had ruled Nigeria for 38 years and six months since independence in 1960, the West 12 years and three months, while the East and the South, which comprised the old Eastern Region, had ruled for 10 months.

According to Amechi, a former Aviation Minister, in equity and justice, zoning or no zoning, it is the turn of the old Eastern Region to produce the next President.

He insisted that it should be left to the people of old Eastern Region to decide whether the Igbo side or non-Igbo side should pick the slot, “after all, it is the old Eastern Region that is laying the golden egg for Nigeria and we are the least developed.

“Even though I hold this personal view, I must defer to the collective will of the people, and that is why this summit is called.”

Amechi said he learnt that some “highly respected Igbo leaders” have met with some Northern leaders and agreed that Ndigbo should support a Presidential candidate from the North.

“If this is correct, I don’t know how wide their circle of consultation was, but I took the liberty to invite them to this summit, so that we may hear their views along with others before we take a decision that will truly reflect the true position of a majority of Ndigbo.”

He disclosed that the idea has been sold to him that if the South South takes the Presidency now and holds it for eight years, it will in rotation go to the North for another eight years.

“Therefore, the shortest period when the Igbo may have a shot for the office is 16 years and no one can predict that the West will not join the contest” by then.

“It is also argued that the people of the South South do not like Ndigbo and will never at any time support our aspiration. These are strong plausible arguments, but I find myself compelled to ask the following question, if we back a Northern candidate, what guarantee do we have that he will win the 2011 election?”

Amechi reminded the Igbo of the saying that one should not confide in a person who once betrayed him, recalling that there was an agreement during the Shehu Shagari/Ekwueme era that at the end of Shagari’s second term, the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) would sponsor an Igbo man for the Presidency, “but a Northern inspired coup d’état scuttled the plan.

He warned that if the Igbo support a Northerner and Jonathan wins, the rancour between Eastern minorities and the Igbo majority could be exacerbated.

He stressed that no incumbent in Africa has ever been defeated in an election and demanded to know the guarantee that there would be a change now, no matter how much the clamour for a free and transparent election.

Amechi raised these posers: “If Jonathan loses the election, can we be sure that the disbanded militants will not return to the creeks and pick up their weapons? Were they really fully disarmed? If they were, have they forgotten their training?

“How will such a scenario affect the economy and stability of the nation? Have we considered the vested interest of powerful nations like America and Britain which want to protect their huge investment and dependence on our oil?

“It is said that in politics, there is no permanent enemy, no permanent friend, it is always sensibly dependent on interest.”

He recalled that the bitterness of the Eastern minorities against Ndigbo began in 1952 when Eyo Ita was asked by the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC) to vacate his position as leader of government to make room for President Nnamdi Azikiwe, who was also the leader of the NCNC  which had the majority in the Eastern House of Assembly.

Amechi pleaded that the broken fence could be repaired by the same Igbo majority supporting Jonathan in 2011.

EVEN AFTER OJUKWU HAVE ENDORSED IBB, SO YOU IBOS WANT TO VOTE FOR TWO PEOPLE AT THEBSAME TIME,
ONE HEAD TWO VOTES