A socio-political group, South East for President (SEP), has called on all political parties, especially the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to zone the slot for Presidency in 2023 to South East geopolitical zone.

National Coordinator of the group, Mr Emmanuel Ezugikpe made this call at a press conference held in Ekiti House, at Abuja on Wednesday.

He said, “The people of the South East zone of the country are Nigerians. They are equally peace-loving and industrious. They have contributed meaningfully to the socio-economic as well as political development of this country.

“As Nigerians whose stock-in-trade is economic development, they need to be in the mainstream struggle to strengthen the unity of Nigeria.

“I therefore call on all political parties in Nigeria, especially the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to zone the presidential ticket to the South East district and leave us with the choice of selecting the right person for the coveted seat,” he said.

Ezugikpe added that Nigerians should join hands to harmonize the country irrespective of socio-religious and ethnic diversity.

He says, “Irrespective of our religious and ethnic backgrounds, we are all Nigerians and do not have any other country better than Nigeria. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that Nigeria works and that each ethnic entity has a responsibility to be respected and be allowed to contribute his quota for the overall development of the country.”

The National Coordinator also observed that the clamour and agitation for secession by a section of the zone would be tackled if collective interests are put together for the identification of all regions to be one indivisible Nigeria.

“I believe, with all humility, that those that are clamoring for division will rest their case if the zone is recognized as part of Nigeria. They simply feel ‘not belonging’ and now want to be given the chance to contribute.

“The leaders of all political parties are sensible enough; they are also reasonable and can easily justify this call; a call for strengthening Nigeria; a call for solidifying unity,” Ezugikpe further said.

Similarly, the SEP national coordinator met with some Northern leaders who encouraged the group to embark on massive sensitisation.

“They assured us that all roads leads to the South East. According to them, our strategy of avoiding threats but talking to the people will lead to success,” he said.

The sensitization, Mr Emmanuel Ezugikpe promise will cut accross the country.