Former Anambra State governor Dr Chris Ngige has castigated
Igbo leaders for standing by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) despite the
fact that most Nigerians wanted change pointing out that Ndigbo sell themselves
short for contracts and short term gain.
Still a sitting senator although he lost his seat in last
weekend's elections, Dr Ngige said it was unfortunate that Ndigbo went with the
status quo when the rest of the country was yearning for change. Last Saturday,
the southeast was the only zone that returned all its senators from one party,
delivering all its seats to the PDP.
A senior member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr
Ngige had been tipped to become senate president but this cannot happen now
that he lost his seat. Prior to the elections, the APC had zoned the senate
presidency to the southeast but the zone will now lose out as all of its 15
senators are from the PDP.
Representing Anambra Central senatorial district, Dr Ngige,
ran for governor last year as an APC candidate but lost too. He added that it had not been easy playing
the politics of opposition in Nigeria, in view of the domineering attitude by
those in government, pointing out that he had been in opposition for 10 years
and knew how the shoe pinched.
Dr Ngige said:
“I must thank all
those who remained steadfast in APC because playing opposition can be
frustrating and tempting. Although I was receiving overtures from the ruling
party, the PDP, I rejected them because the principles on which we formed that
party were jettisoned and bastardised.
“At the
amalgamation of some political parties to form APC, I decided to run for
governor but many notable politicians told me that though I am a good
candidate, it was better for me not to run because I must never be allowed to
win as the forces against me were numerous. However, I insisted on running
because God had told me that APC would form the next federal government and
although I did not win the governorship, I was consistently telling our people
that APC was the best bet for Igbo in Nigerian politics."
He chided Ndigbo for their short-term attitude of cosying up
to the government for short-term favours like appointments and contracts.
According to Dr Ngige, this had made Ndigbo lose out nationally now that the
wind of change has blown.
“Many Igbo people,
who are benefiting from federal government contracts, decided to sacrifice the
future of their children and children’s children. I know many of these Igbo
contractors cannot play opposition politics and their next move may be to move
into APC".
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