By James Orji
The North has sent a strong message to the south that when the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari expires in 2023, that the region is not prepared to concede power by force, in reference to the insistence from southerners that the region should step aside from ruling the country after 2023.
The Publicity Secretary of the Northern Elders Forum, Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed made this known, saying that the North has the number of votes to produce the next president.
If the Northerners decide otherwise, he said, it will not be because they are forced to do so., adding that such gesture will be in the overall interest of the region.
Baba-Ahmed is one of the top Northern politicians who insist that power must remain in the region, and his views will definitely not go down well with many Nigerians who insist that power must shift to the South for the sake of equity after the North has held power for eight years under the incumbent.
If this happens, the gentleman agreement between the North and South that power should rotate between the two regions would have been breached, a situation that may further polarize the country that is already sorely divided watchers of development in the country said.
Already, notable politicians from the south, including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu have warned that the South would not play second fiddle in the next political dispensation. Akeredolu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN who spoke after the meeting of Southern Governors Forum, SGF in Enugu warned political parties in the country not to field Northern candidates for the upcoming election, as doing so would make them lose support from the region.
The Ondo Governor who have been at the forefront of clamour of power shift from the north said, it is time for the North to let go of power. Baba-Ahmed seemed not to be convinced.
While addressing participants at the event, Baba-Ahmed said: “The vote says vote who you want. We have the majority of the votes. Why do we need to accept a second class position when we can fight and get a first class position. Why?
“Why does anyone need to threaten us and cajole us and intimidate us? If you don’t bring the presidency here, you will see, okay let’s see, we are waiting to see.
“But when we get the power, in the name of God be humble because power comes from God”.
“If they tell you the north must play second fiddle, say No! If the rule of the game says you should vote for the candidate of your choice, vote for the candidate of your choice.”
He, however, added that it is in the North’s interest to concede power.
According to him “If they do not like the fact that it might be a northerner that will emerge as president, too bad. If we want to support a southerner, we will support a southerner because that will be in our own interest, rather than in somebody’s interest.”
