Leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has alledged President Buhari of causing confusion among the presidential aspirants for the South, accusing the North of unreadiness to give up power to any other geo-political zones in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The elder statesman made the claim on Monday while speaking at the forum of Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC), organised by leaders, stakeholders and friends of South-East geopolitical zone at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.
Giving his assessment of the chieftains of the APC who have formally signified interest in the party presidential ticket, which include — Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Ibikunle Amosun respectively, former governors of Lagos and Ogun state, serving governor of Ebonyi state David Umahi; Vice-President, Yemi Osinbajo; former governors of Rivers and Enugu state, Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Chris Ngige; Adebajo identified a ploy by the North to divide the South West against itself despite not wanting the South East because it wants to hold on to power.
Meanwhile, there are insinuations that former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, could dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC and contest for the latter’s presidential ticket.
Among presidential aspirants from the South-East in attendance were former Imo state governor and senator representing Imo West, Rochas Okorocha; former Secretary to Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi.
Further in his critique, Adebanjo alleged that the North, led by President Muhammadu Buhari, was deliberately promoting confusion among the party chieftains from the south.
He said, “We all know the truth, they don’t want the South-East. It is not because they don’t know what is right.
“I only like to point to the fact that they are just deceiving you. All you are hearing that they (the North) are supporting the South-West is an element of deceit to deprive you to be able to rule you. They don’t like anybody.
“I told Tinubu himself, not in the paper, face-to-face. You believe this man (Buhari) will make you President? He said yes. I said he wants to make you President, he asked (Yemi) Osinbajo to contest? He asked (Kayode) Fayemi to contest, he asked Amosun (Ibikunle) to contest? All in the West, why? He wanted to divide the West first.
“The unfortunate thing is that President Goodluck Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced by mentioning the fact that I’m considering whether to be president! For what?
“Now that it is the turn of the South-East, they are propounding a new theory; it must be based on merit and all that. If it is the question of merit, who in the North, all of them…if it has been based on merit till today, till kingdom comes, the East alone will produce the president.
“I’m saying all these because in the talks about, go and sell yourself, go and campaign, go and lobby,’ it is all rigmarole. They know the truth.”
While lending his voice in support of choosing a president of South-East extraction in 2023, Chief Adebanjo admonished politicians from the region, across political divides to close ranks ahead of next general elections.
“Although I don’t like all the people that came out from the East, but for the fact that they are saying you have no people, I’m happy you demonstrate that. But go and unite. A house divided against itself will not stand.
“The North doesn’t want to leave power, while the South is slugging it out, they put their candidate up. We can still be together if we have a government that will give autonomy to regions.”
In the same vein, the former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw National Leader, Chief Edwin Clark, has submitted that the South-East be allowed to produce president for the country in 2023.
“It will not cost money or anything to make Nigeria better. All that is required is for us to demonstrate reciprocal respect, love and understanding to one another. Let us do what is right; let us accommodate one another, and be fair to one another.
“Let all other Nigerians support a south-eastern candidate president come 2023. I repeat, very soon, I will be 95 years old. I have spent more than 70 years of this period in Nigerian affairs. I have seen it all. For the peace and sanity of the country, I appeal to all, in the name of the Almighty God, to make this concession to the Igbos, to present a President Nigeria.
“And like every other part of the country, they have the men and women who are competent, patriotic, loyal, intelligent, industrious, healthy and active, whom Nigerians will be proud of, to occupy the position. Let us give them a chance”, he concluded.
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