Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, has been described as a strong factor in determining who occupies the Aso Presidential Villa after the 2015 elections. Amaechi, according to former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party (New PDP), Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has over the years acquired the requisite political stature to influence the outcome of the current jostling for who succeeds President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Although Amaechi is eminently qualified to be President and would make a good one if given the opportunity, his preoccupation at this moment is to flush out the evil regime of PDP come 2015 but if the All Progressives Congress (APC), of which he is one of the pillars, decides to support him for any elective post, so be it,” Eze said in a statement issued today in Port Harcourt.

Chief Eze, a political ally of Governor Amaechi, described him as a political genius with a Midas touch. “His mobilisational and organisational expertise accounts for why he has been able to serve as a two-term Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), his feats as Rivers State Governor and APC’s deep penetration of Rivers State and other parts of the South-South in so short a time. Amaechi’s key roles in stabilising and repositioning APC and his contributions towards the growth of the party speak eloquently of his relevance,” Eze said.

The ex-New PDP Spokesman opined that a ticket of retired Gen. Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Amaechi is the best APC could possibly present for the 2015 presidential election but quickly added that it is left for the party’s delegates and leaders to decide those to fly the party’s flag in the election.

His words: “I have read a lot about a probable Muslim-Muslim ticket in the party but that is not advisable in the present circumstances in the interest of a united nation and mission to rescue Nigeria from the shackles of the impunity experts in PDP ruining our nation. The winning ticket is one that features a strong candidate of Muslim extraction and a strong candidate of Christian background. A Buhari-Amaechi ticket would just be perfect. I don’t see how Goodluck Jonathan and whoever is paired with him can survive in a free and fair contest against Buhari and Amaechi.”

Eze pointed out that APC stands on a two-legged stool – Legacy Group and New PDP Group. According to him, “We of the New PDP Group have conceded the National Chairman’s seat to the Legacy Group (Chief John Odigie-Oyegun) and if Buhari, who is also a member of the Legacy Group, gets the ticket, then it becomes imperative that we in the New PDP must be given the Vice President’s slot. However, if Atiku Abubakar or Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso who are also members of the New PDP gets the ticket, we of the New PDP family should graciously concede the VP ticket to the Legacy Group in the spirit of equity, justice and fairness which are the principles in which APC was established.”

The above calculations notwithstanding, Eze further counselled that it is imperative that the APC leadership to unite. “The fate of our country,” he said, “can only be ratified and put back on track if APC leadership and members unite to get PDP sacked by 2015. If not, the woes ahead for all of us may not be described. We have done too much talking! The fact remains that should APC lose out in the 2015 general election, but God forbid, the true colour of President Goodluck Jonathan will be revealed to Nigerians. And the heat may be unbearable. The ball is now in the court of APC leaders to do that which is necessary to rescue our dear nation from the imminent doom that awaits her, should we fail in this mission.”

Eze congratulated House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal “for his statesmanship conduct by withdrawing from the presidential race of the party to ensure that we as a party unite to rescue Nigeria from the hands of misguided PDP Leaders holding our nation hostage.”

•Photo shows Governor Amaechi.

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