2023: ‘I’m candidate for justice, not zoning, Okorocha declares for presidency

 

. As EFFC slams 17-count for ‘fraud’ charge

.Parties shouldn’t sell Nigeria to highest bidder – Women rights group

Former Imo State Governor and Senator representing Imo West district, Rochas Okorocha, has officially declared his intention to run for the presidency in 2023.

 

This is as he once again kicked against the zoning of political offices in the All Progressives Congress, appealing to party leaders to allow a level-playing field for candidates no matter their region.

 

Okorocha said this on Monday in Abuja at a World Press Conference which doubles as the first official declaration of his intention to run for the Office of President after it was made public on the floor of the Senate last week.

 

He said, “I hear people talking about zoning, I’m not a candidate of zoning, I am a candidate of justice. Maybe the South-East has not been able to present their matter very well before the rest of Nigerians.

 

“I appeal to my party – APC, to allow a level-playing ground. And the South-East must know that power is not given, it is taken. You must reach out to people who you want to vote for you. But let justice reign.”

 

The lawmaker promised that, if elected, he will reunite the country; a challenge, he said, previous leaders have been unable to tackle head on.

 

Meanwhile, A seventeen-count charge of fraud was on Monday filed against Rochas Okorocha, senator representing Imo west, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

 

The charges were filed before a federal high court in Abuja.

 

The former Imo State governor, the Commission said, allegedly conspired with others, including a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and five companies, to steal N2.9 billion public funds.

 

Charged alingside Okorocha, are other defendants, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Consolid Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited

 

In another development , a Nigerian women rights movement under the aegis of 100 Women Lobby Group on Monday called on political parties to liberalise the political space in the 2023 general election by ensuring that women get enough space in elective positions.

 

As part of the liberalisation, the organisation advised political parties not to ask for money from candidates seeking election or make it reasonable, if they should collect money because Nigeria cannot be sold to the highest bidder.

 

“Religious and traditional institutions should liberalize leadership structures to guarantee unfettered access by the female folk to leadership positions in their hierarchy, such that women can become Queens, Obas, Ezes, Emirs, heads of community associations, etc”, the organisation also said.

 

While calling on traditional rulers to stop some practices which tend to limit the advancement of women in rightful positions, the movement said it would “send a petition to many stakeholders on the need to bridge the gaps in the collective efforts to increase the capacity of Nigerian women to move Nigeria forward in the political sphere.”

 

The national coordinator of 100 WLG and President of Change Managers Network, Felicia Onibon, said this during a press conference to disseminate the findings of its 2021 survey on the state of Nigerian women in political participation titled: ‘Improving electoral integrity and accountability in Nigeria project.’

 

The event was attended by the President, Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu; Consultant for Change Managers International Network, Ignatius Agu; Development Communication expert, Thomas Odemwingie; Board member, 100 WLG, Tayo Erinle and South East coordinator, Irene Ugbah.

 

According to Odemwingie, women should present themselves for elective positions because there is a party structure in Nigeria.

 

 

 

He said any woman who wants to be President without a political party structure would be wasting resources and intellect.

 

 

Nigerian president must be vibrant, committed, says aspirant

Onibon said, “Nigerian women deserve enough space in 2023. Political parties should reduce the financial demands on women seeking elective positions.

 

“But what we are saying is that political parties should not ask for such money (for forms) from anybody. Although asking for it is one of the ways of raising funds, they should be reasonable about it because we cannot sell Nigeria to the highest bidder who may be a thief or getting money from corrupt practices. Where are we going with that? Both men and women will suffer from it.

 

“Although political parties have been collecting money for forms, it can be changed because such practices are not cast on stones.”

 

According to her, from Independence, the issue of women marginalization and exclusion in political participation and decision making in the Nigerian space has been a source of concern to well-meaning and inclusion-minded Nigerians.

 

She regretted that despite the huge contribution of women in national development in Nigeria, that had been well documented, there still existed low representation and participation of women in the political process.