It is no longer a secret that leaders in Nigeria are more interested in their political ambition than the masses. This simply means that the unsavory quest for power is a priority for most Nigerian leaders, while an effective administration of the country remains secondary.
Irrespective of the constant emerging crucial matters that require immediate attention by Nigerian political office holders, the 2023 presidency topples their priority list. No doubt, some of the politicians are beginning to strategize, at least to ensure that presidential power goes to a particular region and a particular party.
It has been an issue of whether the North should retain the presidency or return it to the South. Opinions have been divided on this burning issue. Whichever way, the political power is likely to be with the same clique of Nigerians who have completely shut down the country.
However, one of those notable Nigerian politicians is Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai who thinks that the principle of rotation still abides with regards to who becomes the president. This simply means that power is to be shared between the North and the South.
Even though, it’s a common feature for Nigerian politicians to preach what they do not practice. Governor El-Rufai is from the North, and political power has also been with the North for the past five years and hopefully till 2023 (8 Years).
Governor El-Rufai who has in many reports been tipped as one of those politicians whose eyes the presidency is of the view that the presidential power is supposed to go to the South in 2033.
He said even though it is not documented anywhere but the general political consensus in Nigeria is that the Presidency should rotate between the North and the South.
“In some of the parties, like the PDP, it is even written down in their constitution but it was breached in 2015. I think that every politician of honor should understand and abide by that consensus except there is an extenuating circumstance compelling it to be set aside. What could this be?
“President Yar’Adua died in office and it was compulsory for Jonathan to continue but when 2011 election came, there were many people who insisted that Jonathan should step aside for a northerner to complete the tenure of Yar’Adua but I opposed it because I didn’t think it was proper for an incumbent that got there not by his own design should be stopped from contesting when the constitution has not barred him from running.
“In the APC, we deliberately omitted rotational Presidency in our constitution and the emergence of a presidential candidate does not take into account zoning and that was why in 2015, Rochas Okorocha from the East contested, Sam Nda-Isaiah contested, Buhari, Kwankwaso, and others contested.
“I can say that as distinct from the PDP, APC has no rotational Presidency but candidates are selected strictly on the basis of political merit and the general acceptability of the candidate.
“I want to say that those of us from Northern Nigeria honor agreements. We do not violate unwritten political agreements and I will be the last person to lead in violating that agreement. I may have a personal view but that should be the basis. I don’t care where you come from but I look for merit.
“But as a group, the Northern APC will have to sit down and endorse someone, most likely someone from the South, because, after eight years of Buhari, I don’t think the Presidency should remain in the north unless there are some extenuating circumstances. But all things being equal, we will honor our agreement and we keep our words.’’