2023: APC Governors in Northern Nigeria in final decision say Presidency goes to South

Governors on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Northern Nigeria made history Saturday, when they confirmed what has for some days been rumoured their decision that the Presidency 2023 should go to the South.

The decision of the Northern governors confirmed the claim in an article published in The DEFENDER last Sunday May 29, 2022 which said:

“Recall one of those personalities from the North once granted an interview sometimes in the past (I may not be able to quote him precisely) saying, “We are not selfish in the North. We want power to shift to the South come 2023 because we cannot be it all the times, although by 2023 South will have done it for 16 years against North 14 years. But Yoruba should unite and present a candidate. You cannot say of all the people in that South West region, there is no single person that can rule Nigeria. You cannot say that. If it is Tinubu you do not want, find another person.” But, he said, “to tell us that you have no other person and that it is only Tinubu or nothing, then, we cannot reject, if eventually there is nobody in that part of the country who can step into the place. There must be no power vacuum. But seriously, let the South West come forward with one person,” he said and this is the position of an average Northerner although some of them, especially some PDP loyalists, want Tinubu.”

The article, contained in a column named WAKE UP, continued by appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari who is believed to owe the key to his own successor to ensure that the candidate he will pick does not come from the North.

“There is no candidate picked from South West, like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who is not well fitted into the position to rule Nigeria. Although the candidate of choice remains with President Muhammadu Buhari and between him and his Lord alone, that choice must definitely not come from the North.  This is the assurance I have gotten from many lovers of United Nigeria of Hausa-Fulani extractions,” the article published by this newspaper seven days ago had said.

Rising from their meeting on Saturday APC Northern governors not only decided that next Nigeria’s President as far as the party is concerned must a Nigerian of Southern extractions but also took a unanimous decision that there must be no Northern aspirant contesting against the Southern aspirants for the APC ticket in the party’s primary election holding early.

They, however, followed up their decision by also urging President Muhammadu Buhari to consider a Southerner as his likely successor in 2023.

The governors issued a statement to this effect after a meeting on Saturday.

In the statement jointly signed by 11 northern governors, they urged Northern presidential aspirants to withdraw from the race in national interest.

Recall that Buhari recently urged APC governors to allow him pick his successor.

He said governors decide their successor, hence he should be allowed to replicate the same at the national level.

The statement entitled ‘statement by Northern States APC Governors and political leaders’ reads in full;

“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 any way 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.”