2023: Peter Obi Or Tinubu, I’m All For Southern Presidency – Akeredolu
- Insists there are bigger issues than same faith ticket
BY EDMOND ODOK – Chairman of Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu says the emergence of Nigeria’s next President from the South in the 2023 general elections is non negotiable for him.
Consequently, he would be “alright” if either Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) or Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins the presidential polls next year.
Akeredolu, who is also the Chairman of South-West Governors’ Forum, said his stance that the next president of Nigeria must come from the South is based on the collective decision earlier taken by the Forum and ably supported by the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF).
The SMBLF comprises Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Middle Belt Forum that have continued to insist that power must shift to the South in 2023.
Speaking Wednesday night on the Channels Television programme, Politics Today, Governor Akeredolu said it would impugn on his integrity to jettison a decision that was unanimously reached with him as the presiding officer.
On his support for the APC’s Muslim-Muslim ticket, Akeredolu said he would still have taken the same position if it were to be another party aside the ruling APC, maintaining that there were bigger issues for Nigerians to focus on than religious sentiments.
According to him, “Religion is not the issue now. We have other issues that should be at the front burner in this country. The issue of restructuring, and rotational presidency among others.
“Since 1999, there is an understanding that the presidency will be rotated between the North and South.
“So if today, we have people who want to deploy manipulation to think they can change it, then we should not accept.
“If you listened to my lecture, I said if (Peter) Obi is elected as president, for me that will be alright. If Bola Ahmed Tinubu is elected, that will be alright.”
“For me, it must come to the South,” Akeredolu said.
