Protesters, numbering thousands, on Wednesday, stormed the national secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to demand that the ruling party should zone its presidential tickets to the southern part of the country.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters yesterday in Abuja, the convener of Concerned Nigerian Citizens for Power Shift to the South, Femi Osabinu, told the leadership of both parties that southern Nigeria must be allowed to occupy the position of President in the country come 2023.
Received by the party’s National Publicity Secretary (NPS), Barr Felix Morka, the ruling party told that though decision has not been taken over zoning, the national leadership will be very fair to all.
Osabinu, had warned that any consideration outside a southern presidency may destabilise the polity, stressing that the rotation of power in Nigeria, goes beyond mere aspiration of political parties.
He further explained that an arrangement is also a tool, for ensuring national unity and stability, insisting that candidates from southern Nigeria, must be allowed to occupy the position of President in the country come for equity sake.
“We are seriously concerned as patriotic Nigerians, that just few days to the Presidential primaries of your party, the party is yet to intimate Nigerians, about its decision, in respect of where it is zoning the Presidential ticket to.
“Recall, that the rotation of power in Nigeria, goes beyond mere aspiration of political parties, but also a tool, towards ensuring national unity and stability, and in this regard, candidates from the southern Nigeria, must be allowed to occupy the position of President in the country come 2023.
“We also wish to remind you, that the established convention is that power must rotate between the North and the South. Hence a President of northern extraction follows that of Southern extraction and vice versa. Any consideration outside of this is foul and may destabilize the polity.
“It is only fair, that after President Muhammadu Buhari, power must come to the south. Any argument against this is inimical to the unity and stability of our nation.
“It is equitable that once the above stands and power is conceded to the south, we will not only be respecting this established convention of power rotation, but we will also be contributing to the dire need, to restore stability and national cohesion, back into our polity.
“It is the turn of the Southern part of the country to produce the next President, and we believe that your party, should have no difficulty in coming out with a categorical declaration, on this very important issue, in the next few days. This must be done without delay.
“The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Remember, there won’t be APC if there is no country called Nigeria. Let us put Nigeria first in our resolutions.
“While wishing you the best as we move towards the general election, we wish to restate that nothing other than the rotation of power to the South, shall be acceptable to us, and our people.”
“It is only fair, that after President Muhammadu Buhari, power must come to the South. Any argument against this is inimical to the unity and stability of our nation. It is equitable that once the above stands and power is conceeded to the South, we will not only be respecting this established convention of power rotation, but we will also be contributing to the dire need, to restore stability and national cohesion, back into our polity.
“It is the turn of the southern part of the country to produce the next president and we believe that your party, should have no difficulty in coming out with a categorical declaration, on this very important issue, in the next few days. This must be done without delay. The principle of Federal Character is enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended. Remember, there won’t be APC if there is no country called Nigeria. Let us put Nigeria first in our resolutions,” the protesters appealed.
Credit: Daily Sun