As the 2023 general elections inch closer, the people of southeast have been called upon to show as much interest in electing credible leaders across board, not just the president.
Chima Christian, public affairs analyst and good governance advocate, made this call in Awka on Wednesday.
According to him, the southeast needs a new breed of political leadership who will restore the badly damaged trust between the political elite and the masses.
Chima said the southeast has 190 electoral seats that will be filled during the 2023 general elections. He however regretted that almost all conversations towards 2023 are fixated on who becomes Nigeria’s next president.
The political communications consultant acknowledged that some political positions command more influence than the others. He however said he has “come to the conclusion that southeast’s 5 governors, 15 senators, 43 federal representatives, and 129 state house of assembly members can impact the southeast better than any president can, even if he/she is the “SI Unit” of good governance or hails from the southeast.”
“Of the 192 elective positions in the southeast, only two (Anambra & Imo governorship seats) will not be on the ballot during the 2023 general elections.
“As we spend time plotting on who becomes Nigeria’s next president, or what “zone” he/she hails from, we should devote some, if not more, energy to purposively selecting leaders that are close to home.
“If the southeast does not elect good governors, senators, federal representatives, state house of assembly members, and then local government chairpersons, I’m afraid that even a great president won’t be of much help to us.” Chima concluded.
