2023: Northern groups insist on Southern presidency

Governor Udom Emmanuel

Political groups drawn from the 19 Northern states and Abuja met in Kaduna and insisted that in 2023 presidency should shift to the Southern part of the country.

The group who came together under the banner of ‘Northern Patriots United for Gov. Udom for President 2023,’ said for justice, fair play and stability of the country, there was the need for the presidency to shift to the south.

Speaking at a news conference in Kaduna on Thursday, the National Coordinator of the group, Hon. Jacob Kaduma noted that “it is expected that by 2023 when this administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari who is of Northern extraction would have clocked eight years of two terms in power, the presidency should shift to the South for justice and fairness.”

Kaduma noted that the group had undertaken some evaluation of the aspirants and Gov Emmanuel caught their attention in terms of performance.

“We are a group of Northerners who are concerned about the peace, security, unity and progress of Nigeria. We seated here are representing our members that are drawn from the 19 Northern states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). We are committed to ensuring justice, fair play and equity for peace and stability in our nation.

“We believe that since the inauguration of this unbroken democracy in May 1999, the principles of power-sharing between the North and South have become accepted as a stabilising factor between the two regions.

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“Arising from this, it is expected that by 2023 when this administration led by President Muhammadu Buhari who is of Northern extraction would have clocked eight years of two terms in power, the
the presidency should shift to the South for justice and fairness.

“In view of the fact that power is expected to shift to the South, we have done a checklist of those who have shown interest in running for the presidency in the Southern part, particularly in the South-east and South-South Zone.

“One aspirant seems to capture our attention due to his sterling qualities of leadership and track record of integrity, statesmanship, development strides and commitment to national unity.

“This exceptional aspirant is no other person than the hard-working Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Dr Emmanuel Udom.

“Considering the present precarious state of the nation that is almost sliding to anarchy, the next president of Nigeria should be one that is a visionary leader that will restore hope and confidence, a bridge builder who appreciates diversity; one that places a high premium on human lives, development. a courageous leader that is unafraid of bringing transformation, a patriot that will foster national unity and integration and one who believes in the Nigerian project.

“The performance record of Dr Emmanuel Udom as Governor of Akwa Ibom State clearly sets him apart as one who epitomises the qualities of the next president Nigeria needs.

“Nearly seven years since he was inaugurated as governor, he has not only managed the diversity of state but has become the arrowhead of infrastructural development and recorded giant strides in various sectors of industrialisation, health, construction, security and development, among others.”

In 2017, the Nigeria Police Force ranked Akwa Ibom as the lowest in the crime index in Nigeria. In 2020, the administration donated 30 new patrol trucks to security agencies in a bid to strengthen the security outfits in the state.

Muhammad Sabiu