Presidency: Southern leaders divided over grilling Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi, others

ON the heels of the interactive session between Arewa Joint Committee, AJC, and presidential candidates, major southern regional groups and leaders are divided over toeing the same path, insisting the next President must come from the South.

The groups, comprising Afenifere, Yoruba Council of Elders, YCE, Pan-Pan-Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Oduduwa United People Association, ODUPA, among others, cautioned against abandoning rotational presidency in 2023.

They were not keen about doing what the AJC did in Kaduna, but were more concerned about the electoral process and where the next President should come from.

However, PANDEF said plans are ongoing to have an interface with candidates from the South in line with the clamour for southern presidency.

Some northern political leaders under the auspices of AJC had organised an interactive session for all presidential candidates.

Held in Kaduna, last week, presidential hopefuls who participated include Kola Abiola of Peoples Redemption Party,PRP, Peter Obi, Labour Party, LP, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, All Progressives Congress, APC, Atiku Abubakar of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Prince Adewole Adebayo, Social Democratic Party, SDP.

The candidates addressed the forum on their plans for Northern Nigeria if elected.

But southern groups were decided on the likelihood of having such in the entire South.

Next President must come from S/East — Afenifere

General Secretary of Afenifere, Chief Olusola Ebiseni, said: “For over a year, in Afenifere and among other groups, particularly the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum, we have, through rigorous debates, given the Nigerian situation a critical analysis and finally taken a position on what we objectively considered best to secure Nigeria. Our corporate existence and prosperity can only be peacefully guaranteed where and when no part is oppressed.

“To that extent, we reiterate unequivocally that the next President of Nigeria should be from the South after Muhammadu Buhari. And for equity, the South-East, which is the only region that has not produced the President, should produce the President. And we found Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party is competent and suitable.

“Organising a “speech day” programme for candidates like a students’ union election is not our modus operandi. It will be hypocritical to do so.’”

Another Afenifere chieftain, Senator Femi Okurounmu, said the group has no plan to organize any symposium for all the presidential candidates in the forthcoming general elections.

He said:”Some of the presidential candidates in the 2023 general elections had visited the organization. They briefed members of the organization about their vision and mission for the country if elected. A symposium would amount to a repetition.”

One region feeling more superior — ODUPA

On his part, Founder, ODUPA worldwide, Chief Jimoh Taofeek, said his group is not interested in organizing any political debate for the presidential candidates.

He said:” We don’t intend to organize a symposium for any candidate as the Arewa did a few weeks ago.

“This is the position and decision of the organisation because we strongly believe there is no way any of the presidential candidates or even anybody can perform magic as long as the 1999 constitution is still in use.

“Let us not be fooled again. The foundation of the problems confronting this country called Nigeria is all about the so-called 1999 constitution.

“I am not seeing any meaningful progress in the country unless the constitution is abolished.

“I have said it repeatedly and I’m still saying it that there cannot be any meaningful development in all ramifications. There may be more crises than expected.

“There is no clear picture that any candidate will be declared winner as the President in 2023. A particular region with fewer resources is claiming to be superior to the region that is blessed with human and natural resources.

“The best solution is for each region to go their separate ways without embarking on violence.

“ Nigeria is never one united entity in reality. I wonder why a few among the ruling class will continue deceiving us.

“The 1999 constitution is not people-oriented, but was written by a few selected Nigerians and promulgated by Decree 24 of 1999 without subjecting it to a referendum

“How can a constitution that centralises security, judiciary and resource control with no autonomy for local governments among others succeed? I can’t understand how a constitution that takes care of a certain religion but neglects others thrives.”

Power shit between North, South sacrosanct — PANDEF

Apex socio-cultural organisation of the South-South geo-political zone of Nigeria, Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, said it would interact with the presidential candidates from southern Nigeria.

Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Mr. Ken Robinson, who disclosed this to Sunday Vanguard, said their decision to limit the interaction to southern candidates followed their stance on power rotation between North and South.

He stressed that their insistence on rotational presidency formed part of their resolutions at their meeting held in Abuja.

He said: “We are insisting on power rotation. We are insisting that the principle of rotation of power between northern and southern Nigeria is sacrosanct.

“And PANDEF will in due course interact only with presidential candidates from southern Nigeria.”

We know their records —YCE

Secretary-General of YCE, Dr Kunle Olajide, said:”Yes, if the opportunity avails itself,  we can have interaction. I think we know about the leading candidates and we would look forward to an opportunity to interact with them before the election.

“Some of them have been telling us their programmes. We know their antecedents and how they performed in the past.

“We would consider the possibility. I will speak with my president and we will discuss it. We are planning a meeting in Chief Fasoranti’s house towards the end of this month and I would get clearance from Justice Bakare, the President of Yoruba Council of Elders. We will make a decision.”

On his part, Ambassador, Yemi Faroubi, said: “Certainly, there is a need for each geopolitical unit to interrogate the presidential candidates for us to know what they want to do for Nigeria. Our nation is made up of six geopolitical units. The leadership of these units ought to interrogate candidates on their vision for Nigeria and each of these units.

The effort being made by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN, to invite all the candidates to Ibadan is good.

“ Afenifere has already endorsed a candidate. It would be difficult for such a group to join others to interrogate the other candidates. They won’t take them seriously. It will be a dangerous thing going into 2023 without knowing what these candidates have for our geopolitical unit.”

Culled from Vanguard