Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has thrown his weight behind a Southern presidency.
Kehinde Akinyemi, Special Assistant on Media to the former president in a statement quoted him saying he supports a change of leadership from the North to the South.
He also encouraged the Middle Belt to continue advocating for a rotational presidency.
Obasanjo made the declaration at the weekend when the leadership of the apex socio-cultural group in Tiv land of Benue State, Mzough U Tiv (MUT), paid him appreciation and friendship visit at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Penthouse residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The former president also advised all Nigerians to eschew emotions ahead of the election, saying that it is the only way to get things right in the elections.
“Obasanjo said he was in support of the change of the leadership of the country from the North to the South, while the Middle-Belt region should continue to advocate for the rotational presidency for the country.
“If Nigeria is ready to get it right, the 2023 election should be a turning point. We should not go for emotions that will destroy us,” Obasanjo, who was conferred with the title of a ‘Great Warrior’ of Tiv land by the socio-political group said.
Obasanjo also declared that with the growing population of the country, the oil and gas sector can no longer feed the nation, but agriculture.
“Only farming and agric business could tackle the nation’s growing population. Farming and agric business is what will feed the nation,” Obasanjo said.
He called on the Tiv people to focus on farming and agric business, stressing that he had put the experience of having his farm burnt in Benue State behind him, as he hinted at having an industry established in the state next year.
Speaking earlier, the President-General of the group, Chief Lorbee Ihagh, stated that the reason for the group’s friendship visit “is basically to interface with you as our former Head of State, a political pillar, a nationalist and elder statesman to appreciate your overwhelming love, passion and concern you have demonstrated over the Tiv people,” stressing that it was also historic.
He listed three prayers for the former president’s consideration, including the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue State and inclusive national politics.
Also, was the issue of Fulani herder’s attack on Tiv land and their position on the Nigerian power-sharing formula.
“With regards 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 true federalism.”
“We want to call on your Excellency and other well-meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principles of rotation and distributive justice. If this is enforced, the Middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next president come the year 2031,” Ihagh said.
