Former President of the Nigerian Senate, Anyim Pius Anyim, has declared interest in the 2023 presidency contest.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ayim announced his interest in contesting for presidency in 2023.
He made the declaration on Thursday in Enugu during a consultative meeting held as part of his preliminary preparation towards the 2023 general election.
Ayim appealed to all political parties in Nigeria to “take the fair, just and equitable decision of zoning their presidential slots to the South, particularly the South-east region.”
He noted that the purpose of the consultation was to gauge the mood of the country, seek counsel, blessing, as well as listen to leaders and elders on their perspectives on the way forward for the country.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) maintained that the South-east stakeholders have repeatedly made the case for zoning the presidency to the region for equity and fairness.
He added that the mood of the country favours the rotation of the presidency to southern Nigeria.
Anyim, who said he has a clear view of the task ahead as well as the solutions needed to advance the cause of the country, noted that he is committed to promoting and protecting the sanctity of lives as well as the rights and liberties of all citizens.
He explained that Nigerians are looking up to the PDP to rebuild the country, protect lives and property, restore the respect of Nigeria within the comity of nations, and re-align the political structure of Nigeria to reflect the current realities.
He further noted that Nigerians look up to the party to revive the economy and save the naira; “rebuild our broken-down social fabric; create jobs for the teeming youths and rehabilitate our collapsing educational systems among others.
“As we prepare for the 2023 elections, I take the liberty to say that the challenge before our great party is how to deliver on the expectations of the Nigerian people.”
Anyim noted that the summary of these expectations was that Nigerians expect PDP to return to power, “so that our country can resume the march to greatness.
“Nigeria is drifting away, and my experiences will be needed to save the country from falling apart.”
Earlier in his address, the Chairman of the session and former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, said the time has come for the South-east region to produce the next president of Nigeria.
He noted that as Anyim has presented himself to serve the country, “we must give him the support he needs to restore our dignity.
“Anyim has summoned stakeholders to present himself formally to us as a candidate for the presidency, that is how it should be done, because you don’t just jump out of anywhere and say you want to run for a position.”
