The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, on Saturday, said he would unveil his intention for the Presidency on Tuesday after the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The minister made this known at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu while responding to a request from a pressure group under the aegis of the South East Progressive Forum who stormed the airport and asked him to contest.
Ngige said that he had consulted with both mortal and immortal people and would announce his position on the 2023 presidency soon.
Speaking to the pressure group led by Comr, Tony Chime, Ngige said:
“This is an ambush. It’s an Easter ambush and anything done in Easter is spiritual. So I thank you people for meeting us here and saying what is in your mind. Make no mistake about it. It is us in the southern part of Nigeria that the presidency is due for. It’s also true, a truism that of all the zone in the Southern Nigeria that is only the southeast zone that has not tasted the presidency.”
The former governor of Anambra State added: “In December 31, 2021 I told a group that after the spiritual season of lent, I will consult with my God and Angel and Arch-Angels. Easter is tomorrow and Easter is a resurrection day. We shall rise with the resurrection and after Easter Monday, I will make a pronouncement on my journey to the presidency.
“So we have done the consultation with mortal and immortal people and we are going to speak but make no mistake again, anything to be shared, if it is seven, it should be shared equally. If you collect first, collect second and collect again without others collecting, that’s where the problem comes.”
Ngige however, commended the group for believing in him.
He said “I am inviting you on Tuesday to Alor, in Idemili South, that’s where I am going to unveil my intention for the Presidency.”
On the possibility of the South East aspirants presenting a consensus candidate, Ngige said, “the issue of consensus candidate has not arise now. You have to wait untill when all the declarations have been made. Not only the declaration, the buying of forms, when the forms have been bought and expression of interest. That is the official first step on the declaration.
“So, after declaration of interest the people will buy the forms and fill, some people will buy form for some people too but that’s when the question for consensus will arise. So until we get to that bridge, we will cross it.”
Speaking earlier Tony Chime told Ngige that the pressure group had screened all presidential aspirants and found that only Ngige can deliver Nigeria from its challenges.
Chime said: “We know the good things you have done in the south East and Nigeria in general. Our appeal is that you should come and contest for the President of Nigeria.
“We know that there are too many people queueing up for this position, but we have screened them individually and collectively, but we have not found the material we needed, hence we are here to appeal to you our brother, father and son to come and deliver us from the problem we are having in this country.”
