Leaders and major stakeholders in the Niger Delta have condemned efforts by some ‘selfish’ politicians to truncate the rotational presidency between the North and the South.
They said the moves will not fly because it is against the unity of the country.
The leaders called on the promoters of the agenda to show patriotism by supporting the South to complete its tenure in the interests of fairness, equity, peace and progress.
The leaders include the President of the Ijaw National Congress(INC), Prof Benjamin Okaba; a former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri; Secretary, Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILOT); Sir Amorighoye Mene; immediate past National Publicity Secretary, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Ken Robinson; and a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Frank Okiye.
Some politicians and groups in the North have been making efforts to ensure the return of power to their region in 2027.
On April 6, a former National Security Adviser (NSA), Gen. Aliyu Gusau, hosted some political figures from the Northcentral, who are seeking a consensus for power shift to the region in the next general election.
The agitators led by Prof. K’sto Nghargbu, proceeded to meet with the Onah of Abaji, Musa Baba Yunusa. They were also received by Senator John Danboyi.
Nghargbu, a professor of medical geology, said: “We are strengthening advocacy for the return of presidency to the zone come 2027 through high-level consultations with prominent figures in all the six geo-political zones.”
Read Also: Nigerians will enjoy uninterrupted power supply before Tinubu leaves office -Adelabu
But Okaba dismissed the calls “as not reflective of the views of the core North, but the assertions and declarations of individual interests.”
He stressed that whether the zoning arrangement was written or not, Nigerians opted for it as it was the best way to strengthen the diverse nature of the polity.
The INC head said: “The moves do not represent the position of the North as an ethno-political bloc; it is the individual assertions and declarations of a minute few who are keen on promoting their interests.
“I have read the views of many politicians of Northern extraction who believe such moves are immoral and unethical and do not show respect for one another.
“Whether the zoning arrangement is written or not, that is what we have told ourselves that can strengthen our diversity. For the INC, we believe that there are many rational Northerners who believe the unity of this country can only be actualised when we maintain this unwritten rotation of the presidential position between the North and South.”
Eradiri, who was also the immediate past governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Bayelsa State, described the moves for power to return to the north as offensive. He called on those behind them to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to complete the tenure of the South.
He said, “The discussions that power should return to the North are offensive. The late President, Muhammadu Buhari served for eight years. It is only proper that the South is allowed to complete its second term of eight years. The last time we had a Southern President was President Goodluck Jonathan, who did not complete his tenure. We swallowed that era and allowed it to pass. But we will not allow it to happen again.
“All political equations and calculations must be geared towards the Southern President. And for us, there is no reason why Tinubu should not complete the second term. Any discussion about 2027 must revolve around a Southern President. ‘’
Robinson, who is also the Convener, Concerned Citizens of Rivers State (CCRS), dismissed groups seeking to “take over” the Presidency in 2027 as unpatriotic and reckless.
He insisted that it was inconceivable that any politician from the North would contemplate regaining the presidency in 2027 after the North’s hold on power between 2015 to 2023.