By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha
A former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State Chapter, Chief Cosmas Agbo, has described the decision of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to field two Muslims as its presidential and vice presidential candidates for the 2023 election as a dangerous gamble.
Fielding questions from newsmen in his country home, Abba, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State during a newyam festival, Agbo, argued that the Muslim ticket experiment introduced by the APC in a circular state like Nigeria was uncalled for, and could deal a blow to the country’s unity.
‘Okpoka na Abba’, as he is fondly called, stress that such monopoly of power by one religious group was not tolerable in Nigeria.
“I don’t think it is right to favour only one religion. There is never a time Igboman will support same faith ticket. It is not fair to the entire country for Muslim-Muslim ticket.”
On the quest for a president of Igbo ethnic group, Agbo, stated that, “There is hope of Igboman clinching the Presidency, from the way I am seeing it now. It is only God that giveth power and I will only advise the electorate to vote their conscience.”
On the insecurity situation in the country, he lamented that, “The APC-led Federal Government has failed. It is known everywhere that the government is not doing well.”
“The insecurity situation is not only in the Southeast zone, it is in all the six geo-polutical zones. My advice is get your PVC and use it to vote out the present bad leadership that is an ill wind that blows nobody good”
On the intra PDP crisis, Agagbo expressed optimism that, “At the end of the tunnel there will be light, adding, ” adding that in no distant time it would be resolved amicably.
On the newyam festival of his people, he said that it was part of the cultural heritage of the Igbo Nation that was observed once in a year.
“It is a yearly event of harvesting the farm produce and preparation for the farming season. The blessing of it is encompassing. A new beginning of the crops”.
