Yoruba/Afenifere leader, Ayo Adebanjo has urged presidential aspirants from the south west to shelve their ambition for now until all issues pertaining to insecurity are settled.
Adebanjo spoke barely 48 hours after renowned legal luminary, Afe Babalola called for the postponement of next year’s election. The Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN said an interim government should take over from President Muhammadu Buhari, midwife a new constitution and chart a way forward for the country.
The Afenifere chieftain told the Punch that the issue of unity should be addressed before the country’s transition to a new government.
Top presidential hopefuls for the 2023 election from the south west include vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, amongst others.
According to him, “Right now, is there a country for them to be President? There must be one country first before you can talk of an election. Is this the country Jonathan handed over to Buhari? Whether a Southern or a Northern candidate, let us unite everyone. We can’t get everyone united until we change this constitution.
“Are you safe? Talk about security. How am I sure that I won’t be shocked when I go to the police station, when electoral officers, soldiers, and policemen are being shot dead and I can’t travel to Maiduguri safely?
“All those who are clamouring for Presidency, be it Jagaban (Tinubu) or Osinbajo, they should assure us of our safety first, that the country is safe, that we are one, then we talk of who is going to be President. They should forget about their ambitions now until there is safety. Nobody can go to the South-East now, and we are all living in denial.”
Speaking on rotational presidency, the elder statesman said presidential hopefuls from the south west should forget their ambition for now, to pave the way for Igbo to produce the next president. This, he said, is based on equity after President Olusegun Obasanjo has served the slot of the south west.
He will not support any Yoruba candidate for president, he said.
“How can I back a South-West candidate? That is not equity. Has Obasanjo not done so for eight years? Has Osinbajo not done eight years as VP? Has Jonathan not done five years as President? Is the South-East not part of Nigeria?
“We want peace and equity. It is the turn of the South-East. I don’t talk ambiguously. It is the South-East that the thing must go; there is no doubt about that but my anxiety now is that before we say, South-East, have we got a country? Let us settle that before we say the South-East is the answer. I am not ambivalent about it at all,” Adebanjo said.
Discover more from The Source
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
