The continued secession threats by various forces and individuals from the South-East cannot earn the Igbos the ticket to produce Nigeria’s next president in 2023, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai has said.
El-Rufai said though it would be the turn of the South to produce the next President for the country, the Igbo should have it at the back of their minds that it would be impossible for them to get the Presidential slot through their current threats of secession to other parts of the country.
The Kaduna governor noted that politics was all about negotiations and convincing others to cast their votes for you.
He, therefore, advised the Igbo to adopt this approach if they want one of their own to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
He stated this during a webinar organised by the Africa Leadership Group. The event tagged: ‘Developing a Viable Nation 2’ was hosted by Pastor Ituah Ighodalo of Trinity House Church.
El-Rufai in his response to a question on why the South-East is being denied Nigeria’s Presidency, said, “I don’t think anyone has stopped the South-East from going for the Presidency. But you see, you cannot get the Presidency of Nigeria by threats or by shouting victimhood. This is a political process and you have to engage other parts of Nigeria to convince them to support you.
“That is what everyone does. That is what Jonathan did in 2011; that is what Buhari did in 2015 and 2019. That is what every President does. You don’t stay in your corner, abuse everyone in Nigeria and say give me Presidency. It is not going to happen.”
The Kaduna governor stressed that no particular region in the country can clinch the Presidential seat without the backing of others.
He advised those aspiring to be Nigeria’s next president to get on the on their feet and convince the electorate that they mean well for the people.
But he noted that the weakness in the strength of the ruling All Progressives Congress is in the South-East might not favour the region in its quest to occupy the nation’s number political office after incumbent President Buhari.
El-Rufai further stated, “Presidency is not by allocation. It is the result of a political process. You join a political party, your party negotiates with other parts of the country and it happens. That is how it is done. And you cannot get it by sitting down or threatening secession. It won’t work.
“I think the South-East is going about it the wrong way because if you look at the APC for instance, we do not have many footprints in the South-East.”