Igbo Leaders want Orji Kalu back to PPA to run for Presidency

Chief Orji Kalu
A coalition of Igbo leaders in the Diaspora are prevailing on former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu to return to the Progressive people's Alliance, PPA, and run for the 2011 Presidential election.

The group which met with the former Governor in Abuja recently, argued that it would be a slap in the face of the Igbo nation if they are not represented at the 2011 Presidential election.

One of the leaders, Mazi Agina Nwankwo, told Pointblanknews.com that the decision of the Igbo leaders was based on what it termed a betrayal of trust by the Igbo Governors of the South Eastern States for not presenting a candidate for the 2011 Presidential election.

Nwankwo argued that never in the history of Nigeria and election has there been an election and no Igbo son or daughter is featuring, at least to represent the Igbo ethnic group.

“There is a vacuum because our Governors have betrayed us and the only one we have to trust is Orji Kalu and we want him to return back to the PPA and run for the Presidential election as our candidate,” Nwankwo told pointblanknews.com after the meeting with the former Governor of Abia State.

The South East governors are still undecided about whether or not to support President Goodluck Jonathan if he eventually decides to run for the 2011 presidential election.

At a recent meeting the Governors of the five South-East states said they were undecided on whether to support President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 elections.

The governors restated their earlier resolve not to run for either President or vice-president, as individuals but assured that they would only support the presidential candidate with the best program for the South-East.

But Nwankwo and his group said such posture amount to a betrayal and fickle mindedness as according to him “no election in the history of Nigeria has an Igbo man never in the race for the Presidency.”

“If they are not interested, we would mobilize and ensure that the Igbo voice is not lost in the 2011 Presidential election and that is why we are calling on Chief Orji kalu who has become the voice of Ndi Igbo to rise up to this occasion, return back to PPA and run for the Presidential election,” Nwankwo said.

Others who attended the meeting are: Chief Austin Olumba, Professor Mora Ibe and seventeen others.

The former Governor who recently left PPA for the People's Democratic Party, PDP, is yet to decide on the call.