Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere has expressed support for the position of Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) on the need for power to shift to the South in 2023, as reiterated by its Chairman, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, while hosting members of the “Power Shift Movement”, who visited him in his office in Akure.
The Movement was led to the governor by its leader, Dr. Pogu Bitrus and co-chair, General Collins Ihekire (rtd).
The stand was contained in a statement by the National Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Jare Ajayi, following the criticism of Akeredolu by Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG).
Akeredolu had reiterated the position of the Southern governors that the presidency must shift to the southern part of the country in 2023.
He said that any party that fielded a northern candidate for the poll would fail.
Spokesmen for ACF and CNG, Messrs. Emmanuel Yawe and Abul-Azeez Suleiman, however, descended heavily on the governor in their separate statements on Wednesday. The Coalition of Northern Group even insinuated alleged hatred for the North.
But Ajayi dismissed ACF’s and CNG’s vilifications, saying the governor’s position was in line with that of the ethnic nationalities, particularly in the four zones in the country, namely Southwest, Middle Belt, South East and Southsouth.