The Chairman, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief Audu Ogbeh, has said that national cohesion could be badly affected if the nation jettisoned zoning of the presidency ahead of the 2023 general election.
According to him, there is still a great deal of suspicion, anxiety and fears of marginalisation in the minds of Nigerians, and abandoning zoning could exacerbate the fears.
Ogbeh, who is the immediate-past Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, disclosed this in an interview published by Sunday Sun.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain noted that the presidency should move to the South when President Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term in 2023.
Emphasising that his stance on zoning did not represent that of ACF, Ogbeh said, “So, on zoning, let me say this; It is too early to jettison zoning.
“The threats of national cohesion and unity are still very fragile in this country.
“There is still a great deal of suspicion, anxiety and fears of marginalisation in the minds of Nigerians.
“So, it will do us a lot of good not to suspend zoning, to allow it continue. In other words, to move on now in 2023, move South.”
Read Also: Don’t rub Biafra in our faces if you want 2023 presidency – Taraba governor tells Ndigbo
Asked what geopolitical zone in the South should produce the president, the Benue State-born politician said it was a Southern problem.
“The Southern leaders and politicians should be able to meet and put a formula in place to deal with the problem,” Ogbeh stated.
Leave a Reply