Dr Chris Ngige


 By Uche Peters, Onitsha    

   A  coalition of eighteen political parties under the umbrella of South East Rainbow Coalition is excited that Minister of Labour and Productivity, Senator Chris Ngige is  receiving massive support in the nationwide consultation for his presidential   aspiration

The spokesman of the group, Chief Uchenna Okonkwo-Okom,  in a telephone  with dailyledger.com. ng over the  weekend, said  members of the Coalition working for actualization of Ngige's Presidential bid cut across 18 political parties across the geo-political zone of the country.

 Okonkwo-Okom who contested for the House of Representatives seat for Orumba North and South Federal Constituency of Anambra State pointed out that the political outreach embarked upon by the coalition across core North, Middle Belt and South South regions, among others,to consult with Nigerians in different geo-political zones has yielded dividends.              

 According to him,  the Minister of Labour and Productivity is good to go in his aspiration to replicate on a  national scale what he excellently did as governor of Anambra State from 2003 to 2006. Okonkwo-Okom, former member  of  the Anambra State  House of Assembly for Orumba North Constituency,  stated that Ngige's  declaration has been long awaited and all arrangements have been concluded for the function this April.

The lawyer-politician said  that, when Ngige was approached to join the race for Presidency in December last year, he promised to do so in April this year, adding: "His Excellency has accepted to contest for the Presidency of Nigeria on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and he will make bold his declaration this month, April."

 According to him,  Ngige's aspiration has received further positive reactions following the declaration of support by Ndi Eze Igbo in Diaspora and Igbo people living in the states  of the Nineteen Northern  Region under the aegis of Igbo Consultative Assembly (IDA) led by its President-general , Chief Chi Nwogu.  He said the groups have unanimously endorsed the 2023 Presidential aspiration of His Excellency, Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige.

“All the consultations are almost through and we, the members of the Southeast Rainbow Coalition, made up of 18 political parties are solidly behind him in this contest.               

  “We are also closing ranks with the South-South Equity Forum, made up of our brothers in the South South, who have been meeting with him in the past one month now.

“Also, the Middle Belt Elders Assembly has also been having talks with His Excellency and all those talks would be made public on the declaration day.”

Okonkwo-Okom assured that the handshake across the River Benue has so far been the easiest so far, stressing that the North has given Ngige’s ambition strong and favorable considerations.

 "Brightening the chances of Ngige is the plot by the PDP in the South East to cast protest votes against the party, should it fail to nominate a candidate of South East extraction. 

Okonkwo-Okom observed  that the people of South East zone have expressed disdain with the move by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to throw the Presidential ticket open instead of zoning it to the South or South East. However, he said it would be a welcome development, as he noted it would send a strong signal that PDP died not want South in the leadership position of the country and a pointer that Ngige's chances are very bright.