Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere leader, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has said the North is not interested in ceding power to any other geo-political zones in the southern part of the country in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
94-year-old Adebanjo made the claim on Monday while speaking at the forum of Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC) organised by leaders, stakeholders and friends of Southeast geopolitical zone at the International Conference Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.
Chieftains of the APC who have formally signified interest in the party presidential ticket include Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senator Ibikunle Amosun respectively, former governors of Lagos and Ogun State, serving governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, former governors of Rivers and Enugu State, Rotimi Amaechi and Senator Chris Ngige.
Among presidential aspirants from the Southeast 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.
There is a strong indication that former president, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, could dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC and contest for the latter’s presidential ticket.
Doing a critique of aspirants from the entire South, 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 Southeast. 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 Southeast, 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.”
“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 his contribution, former Federal Commissioner for Information and Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, spoke in a similar vein as he said the Southeast be allowed to produce president for the country in 2023.
He said: “The people of the Southeast deserve to have a sense of belonging in this country. So, the clamour for a president for the South last geopolitical zone is supported by me.
“Today, with no other tangible reason for still wanting to hold on to power, some people are talking about merit and competence. To these people my response is simple, we must all woo and win each other, because every part of this country has a beautiful bride and every part has a handsome groom.
“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.”
In his welcome address, Senator Chris Anyanwu who spoke on behalf of leaders of the GNC told the gathering that the focus of the organisers was to call attention to the threat to unity of the country, which he claimed was being promoted with the exclusion of a section of the country from the exalted office of presidency.
He said: “Without equity and justice; without inclusiveness; without mutual respect among the component units of this society, the future is bleak for Nigeria. All parts of Nigeria have woken up to the fact that they have equal rights and therefore hold equal stakes in the Nigerian enterprise.
“Therefore, no group is willing to sit at the sharing table and watch others gorge themselves on the fruits of our patrimony and not partake.
“That is why the cries for equity, justice and inclusiveness will ring higher and higher and the restiveness in the Nigerian society will grow more and more and the tears and pulls from all directions on the fabric that holds the nation together will become more forceful and more desperate until it is completely shredded. Today, we will talk.
“Those who know better will talk. Those who have seen it all with talk. And we hope that those who have ears will hear.
“Equity will decide the future of Nigeria. The political parties will decide this year either to go for a greater, more inclusive and more united Nigeria or a weaker, more frightening, more fragmented pseudo-Nigeria. This conference is planned to explore these issues and hammer on that one essential step that must be taken now to restore hope for a greater Nigeria and that is Southeast presidency.”