Southeast politicians have begun to close ranks and strategise with a view to negotiating with their colleagues in other zones of the country for the presidential slot in 2023.

They are to hold a bipartisan meeting Tuesday in Igbere, Abia State to harmonise their thoughts and set socio-economic and political agenda for the Southeast to have a shot at the presidency.

A notice of the meeting was endorsed by 10 politicians, includingthe governors of the five Southeast states (Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Hope Uzodimma (Imo) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).

Others that signed the invitation notice areformer DeputySenate President Ike Ekweremadu; Senate Chief Whip Oji Uzor Kalu; Senate Minority Leader, Eyinnaya Abaribe;Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representatives,Nkeiru Onyejeocha; and Deputy Minority Leader,House of Representatives, Tony Okechukwu

The notice titled: ‘Call on Way forward for the Southeast Geopolitical Zone’reads: “Greetings to Your Excellency. This is to invite/inform you of the bipartisan meeting of members of All Progressives Congress (APC), members of thePeoples Democratic Party (PDP), members ofthe All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) and other political parties in Southeast geopolitical zone holding on January 5, 2021 in Camp Neya, Igbere, Abia State at 12 pm.”Igbere is Kalu’s community.

Asource close to the organisers of the meetingtold The Nation that the political gladiators from the zone thought it wise to shun partisan politicsto ensure a departure from past mistakes and work for the common good of the peopleofthe Southeast in 2023.. .

According to him, the initiative would afford the region, an opportunity come up with an action planto bargain with other politicians from the other five geopolitical zones of the countryin the allocation of key political offices, especially at the federal level.

He explained that other political leaders expected to attend the meeting are present and past governors;serving and past ministers;serving and former senators and members of the House of Representatives, all former senate presidents, speakers and deputy speakers of the Senate and House of Representatives from the zone.

Others are speakers of state Houses of Assembly, former speakers, deputy speakersand former deputy speakers, national chairmanand all former chairmen of APGA, state chairmen andsecretaries of all other political parties as well as present and past. (The Nation)