Victor Ezeja
Leader of the Pan Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, has reiterated his support for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi, saying that it is rooted in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice.
Adebanjo who attended the Labour Party presidential campaign rally in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria, on Wednesday, said seeking the office of presidency is not about ethnicity but fairness to others.
He declared that he bears no grudges against the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as his critics have alleged, adding that he had supported him to succeed in becoming the governor of Lagos State for two tenures of eight years.
The Afenifere chieftain has been criticised for supporting Peter Obi, a presidential candidate from Southeast.
He said those criticising him lack knowledge of Nigeria’s history.
He pointed out that since Nigeria got independence in 1960, South East has not produced the country’s leadership while other regions had produced it one or two times.
He gave details of how other regions have produced president of the country, and insisted that the number one office in the office must be rotated.
According to him, “Former President Olusegun Obasanjo was brought from prison after the annulment of the 1993 election to lead the Country He spent a two-term of eight years and handed over to Late Musa Yar’adua from the Northeast.
“After the demise of Yar’adua, President Goodluck Jonathan from the South-South became the acting president through the invocation of the doctrine of necessity and later contested and won the election.
“Former President Jonathan handed over to the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari from the North West. Now the Afenifere is saying that the baton of leadership must be handed over to the candidate from the South East, and people are now calling me names.”
“They submitted that my decision is borne out of the hatred that I have for Tinubu. The question is, where are this set of critics when I stood solidly behind Tinubu during his challenges?
“Where are they when I supported his first and second-term ambitions to govern Lagos state Now that I am calling for equity and fairness, I have become his sworn enemy. They say that I am envious of his achievements.
“Nigeria’s presidency is neither about Ibo nor Yoruba. The legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo must be upheld. Awo detested the marginalisation of any tribe by any tribe.
“Chief Awolowo is an advocate of true federalism. This is what he fought for alongside the Late Nnamdi Azikiwe and Sardauna of Sokoto.
“Rotational presidency is non-negotiable,” the nonegenerian stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
