Ahead of the 2023 presidential election, former President Olusegun Obasanjo says he supports a change of leadership from the North to South in 2023.
This means Obasanjo is not backing Atiku Abubakar – his deputy when he was president who’s now the PDP presidential flag-bearer.
Obasanjo spoke at the weekend when the leadership of the apex socio-cultural group in Tiv land of Benue State, Mzough U Tiv (MUT), visited him at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.
The former president said he was in support for the change of the leadership of the country from the North to the South, adding that the Middle-Belt region should continue to advocate for 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 emotion that will destroy us,” Obasanjo, who was conferred with the title of a “Great Warrior” of Tiv land by the socio-political group, said.
Responding to Obasanjo in a speech, the leader of the group – Iorbee Ihagh – said the reason for the 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.”
Ihagh listed three prayers for the former president’s consideration: the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue State, inclusive national politics as well as the issue of Fulani herders attack on TIV land and position in the Nigerian power sharing formula.
He said: “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 a true federalism.
“We want to call on your Excellency and other well meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principle of rotation and distributive justice. If this is enforced, the middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next president come year 2031.”
