2023 Presidency: Any Party That Fields A Northern Candidate Will Lose – Akeredolu

Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu has declared that any political party that fields a northern candidate in the 2023 presidential election will lose.

The Governor spoke on Tuesday at his office in Akure the Ondo State capital when he played host to members of a group, Power Rotation Movement, led by its Chairman, Dr Pogu Bitrus, who also doubles as the Chairman, Middle Belt Forum.

Akeredolu’s declaration comes amidst calls for the political parties in the country to zone their 2023 presidential ticket to the southern region of the country.

He maintained that in the spirit of fairness and justice, the person to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari should be a southerner as the north would have completed eight straight years of leadership by 2023.

He also countered those saying competence must be considered above zoning, stating that there are many capable candidates from the southern region that can lead Nigeria.

“In about two or three meetings, we have come out and declared that power must move to the south. Only a party that is determined to lose will field a northern candidate. You are now a movement of members of political parties coming together. What we stand for is fair and equitable power rotation. The only thing fair is that after eight years in the north, it should come to the south.

“Some of us believe in one Nigeria that’s fair and equitable. We have a reason for it and it can be defended. Some people have argued that the presidency should be based on competence. Are they saying there are no competent ones in the south?

“My brother governors from the south, all of us are determined. Whosoever we pick, for as long as it is south, we will support him. We are saying the president must come from the south. There are people who merit it in the South-South, South-East, and the South-West.

“I also support your approach. If you are able to mobilize the youth and do not allow the election to be rigged, then we will win. You should also get our women to support us,” the Ondo Governor said.

Earlier, the Chairman of the movement, Dr Bitrus, told Governor Akeredolu that they are committed to ensuring power shifts to the south in 2023 and have been mobilizing the electorate to vote for a southern candidate.

“We are passionate believers that power should rotate in this country and should move from the north to the south. We launched the 40 million ballot movement. That’s the sensitization of the youth. We launched it for our youth to key in.

“Leaders in the south and middle belt met in Abuja and agreed that power should rotate to the south, that the middle belt and the south should move against any party that fields any candidate outside the southern part of the country,” he said.

Naija News understands others in the delegation that carried out the visit include the Co-chair, Rtd. General Collins Ihekire, representing the Ohaneze Ndigbo; National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu; representative of Yoruba Council of Elders, Hon. Ayodele Oni; National Publicity Secretary of Afenfere, Comrade Jaye Ajayi; National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Hon. Ken. Robinson; and Comrade Kennedy Iyere, National Coordinator of Power-shift Movement & Forty Million Ballots (a movement being driven by the Youth) among others.

This article was originally published on Naija News