President Muhammadu Buhari has backed rotation of power to the South in 2023, after about 11 governors from the North were said to have thrown their weight behind power shift to the South in 2023.
The President was said to have announced his decision at a dinner with All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential aspirants at the Aso Rock Villa, ending speculation about his position on the ding-dong debate on where power should go after his exit.
Already, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had chosen a Northern candidate in former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, who flew its flag in the February 23, 2019, election, while the Labour Party (LP), chose Peter Obi, also from the South to fly its own flag.
The 11 governors and leaders of the party, had asked the President to concede power to the South in 2023, by limiting his search for a successor to the region, in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.
It was on the strength of their advise that Abubakar Badaru Governor of Jigawa State, threw in his towel, saying he would no longer contest.
Among the governors and APC leaders, who took the stand included: Nasir el-Rufai, Aminu Bello Masari, Simon Lalong, Abdullahi Ganduje, Muhammed Inuwa Yahaya, Bello Matawalle and Abubakar Sani Bello, Abdullahi Sule, Babagana Umara Zulum, Atiku Bagudu and ex-Governor Aliyu Wamakko.
They resolved: “APC governors and political leaders from the northern states of Nigeria today met to review the political situation and to further support our party in providing progressive leadership amidst our national challenges.
“During our discussions, we welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s invitation to governors and other stakeholders to contribute to the emergence of a strong presidential candidate for the APC.
“After careful deliberation, we wish to state our firm conviction that after eight years in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the presidential candidate of the APC for the 2023 elections should be one of our teeming members from the southern states of Nigeria.
“It is a question of honour for the APC, an obligation that is not in anyway affected by the decisions taken by another political party. We affirm that upholding this principle is in the interest of building a stronger, more united and more progressive country.
“We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammadu Buhari that the search for a successor as the APC’s presidential candidate be limited to our compatriots from the southern States.
“We appeal to all aspirants from the northern states to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.
“We are delighted by the decision of our esteemed colleague, His Excellency, Governor Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.
“The APC has a duty to ensure that the 2023 elections offer a nation-building moment, reaffirming that a democratic pathway to power exists for all who value cooperation and build national platforms.
“This moment calls for the most sober and inclusive approach to selecting our party’s candidate, and we call on all APC leaders to fulfil their responsibility in this regard.”