Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the oil and gas sector of the economy can no longer sustain the nation in the face of the growing population.
He said this when he hosted the leadership of the apex socio-cultural group of the Tiv from Benue State, Mzough U Tiv (MUT) at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) penthouse in Abeokuta, Ogun State, at the weekend.
Obasanjo who was responding to a speech by MUT’s President General, Chief Iorbee Ihagh, expressed that channeling attention to farming and modernised agricultural businesses could solve the food needs of Nigeria’s growing population.
In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President advised the Tiv nationality to focus on farming and agricultural businesses.
On the 2023 elections, the elder statesman said he is in support of the change of the country’s leadership from the North to the South, warning that voting for candidates on the basis of emotions would be destructive.
He also encouraged the Middle Belt to continue advocating for a rotational presidency.
He said, “If Nigeria is ready to get it right, the 2023 election should be a turning point. We should not go for emotion that will destroy us.”
On his part, Ihagh said the group’s visit was to interact with the former president and to appreciate his support to the Tiv people.
According to him, “With regard to the current power equation in the country, we in the Mzough u Tiv, in conjunction with the Middle Belt Forum, had unanimously resolved for power shift from the North to the South for fairness, justice, and a true federalism.
“We want to call on Your Excellency and other well-meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principle of rotation and distributive justice.
“If this is enforced, the Middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next President in Year 2031.”
