By Kamsi Anayo
The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Presidential Candidate in the 2023 election, Prof. Peter Umeadi, says Nigeria’s fundamental problems hinge on false federalism owing largely to the over-centralizing of power by the present constitution.
“This is fueled by leadership deficit and/or gap, and its attendant catastrophic outcomes and the development and underdevelopment even in a digital age.
“Lamentations of colonialism and neo-imperialism will never solve the social problems of our country that has been amalgamated for over a century, yet still drifting,” he said.
Umeadi spoke to our Correspondent on Monday in his country home of Agukwu Nri, Anaocha Local Government Area, Anambra state.
According to him, the structural imbalance, coupled with ethnic mistrust and ethno-religious activities have accelerated the downward trend of what could have been a proud great country.
“The build-up in the boat of ethnocentrism capsized and plunged the country into a regrettable 30-month civil war which consequences are still staring us on the face.
“The military interregnum further brought to the fore democracy reversal in addition to perpetrating the culture of corruption still in progress and even worse under the civilian administrations,” he said.
Umeadi said that his vision if elected “is to entrench a new political culture as he has undertaken time to galvanize Nigeria, the old, young, rich, poor, literate or not, from different religious persuasion and from all six geopolitical zones.
“We could only reposition Nigeria from within. If we roll up our sleeves and go to work in all facets of our life we should be able to reposition Nigeria in four years,”.
Umeadi said that only him and his party have the capacity to reposition Nigeria in four years looking at the various party’s presidential candidates jostling for the seat of the Presidency.
He said he was optimistic of emerging victorious at the 2023 presidential poll.
He expressed his readiness to win the forthcoming presidential election, revealing that he recently summoned a meeting of all the APGA chairmen across the 36 states in Asaba.
According to the retired justice, the meeting reviewed the strength and chances of the party.
He said that the National Chairman of APGA, Chief Victor Oye, had equally summoned series of similar meetings at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja where all the stakeholders agreed to work for the victory of the party’s presidential candidate.
Umeadi, a former Chief Judge of Anambra state, said that the solution to the political problems in Nigeria is allowing a President of Nigeria to appear from South East and to come from APGA party.
He described Nigerian politics as tedious, expensive and contentious, adding that he retired as a Judge and joined politics in order to contribute his own little way to help his people.
He said, “In today’s politics of Nigeria, the presidency of Nigeria should come from the South East and that is where APGA is the key player.
“And I will take this opportunity to tell you that APGA is the only party that could reposition Nigeria because APGA represents everything inclusive and for you to see the way things are going in the country, the best thing is to have APGA at the helm of affairs politically in Nigeria.
“I want to be president of Nigeria to implement policies and not to impress anybody. I pledge also to remove my personal interest from the picture in its entirety in the course of my official duties if elected. Nobody is perfect, but I want to be remembered as a saint when I finish.
“Uppermost in my mind is how to reconcile with ourselves across the length and breadth of our dear country and proceed to reposition the Nigeria in four years after the election of 2023.
“My aspiration is predicted on popular votes at the polls from a majority of Nigerians.
“Let us respect the ballots. Let us canvas and sustain free and fair elections. Let our valid votes count. Validity of votes permeate capacity to vote down to announcement of the correct results. The struggle continues.” He added
