Saturday 9 October 2021: Governors of the South Eastern States on Friday asked all political parties in the country to pick their 2023 presidential candidates from the zone. Chairman, South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, while making the call asked political parties in the country not to scheme out the zone in the race.

According to him, the region has sacrificed a lot and must be allowed to produce the next President of the country whether zoning or not zoning.

Umahi made this known during a prayer summit organised by the state government at Ecumenical centre, Abakaliki.

He called for integration of the zone in the affairs of the country. According to him, Nigeria must treat South East fairly and on equitable order.

He said: “We will continue to say as a father of the statement that we will not belong to Biafra, we will not.

“We will not go back to second slavery, we will not. We want to belong to Nigeria, we want to belong to fair play and equitable Nigeria.

“And let me state very clear, zoning or no zoning party or no party, south east must not be schemed out of the affairs of this nation, it must not be schemed out.

“What is good for other states, is good for south east, it doesn’t matter whom God enthrones. Let south east be properly intergrated in the affairs of this nation. We are nation builders, we should not be filt.

“We have investments in every part of this country and people use hate speeches to keep us down, people should not be afraid of us.

“We will work with the people for love and unity of this country. Give us a chance, treat us fairly for we have sacrificed. Even the states that are asking for VAT to collect, we have contributed alot in building those states”