* Insists On Power Shift To South East Zone
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Former presidential aspirant on the platform of Sustainable National Party of Nigeria (SNPN) in the 2019 general election, Ahmed Buhari, has lent his voice to the clamour for power shift to the South of Nigeria, saying specifically that the 2023 Presidency should be deliberately micro-zoned to the South East geo-political zone.
Buhari who spoke on ARISE News Tv on Monday morning, February 14, 2022, also said that though qualified aspirants are gradually emerging from the zone, he contends that former the Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, appears to "stand out" among the current pack of presidential contenders.
According to Buhari, Anyim's performance in the Senate as president when the National Assembly was in turmoil, played a significant and historical roles in stabilizing roles the fledgling parliament at the time. Not only that, he said, Anyim deftly showcased himself as one who could be entrusted with the country's leadership with a propensity to deliver on the job.
He also recalled that Anyim's role in the office of secretary to government of the federation (SGF) where he was head of all ministries and agencies of government, and how he managed a rancor free free civil servants even without being a career civil servant, was another plus for the former lawmaker which should not be glossed over in the 2023 leadership selection process.
Buhari also noted that Anyim's statemanly and consensus building disposition towards the contentious issue of restructuring, gives him out as a leader who is ready to listen and carry every part of the country along. He therefore maintained that Anyim's roles so far at the national level distinguishes him as a leadership material with the best exposure and experience to provide the desired leadership to Nigeria.
Buhari who raised the age factor in his television interview, also made a vigorous case for Senator Anyim on this sphere, stating that at 61 years (by Saturday, February 19), Anyim is still within the vibrant age line that has rich leadership value to offer the country if the party and popular choice favours him.
On the contentious question of zonalization of the 2023 presidency, Ahmed Buhari, argues that it would be politically unfair if the nation's top job is not zoned to the South, pointing out that such mistake might have serious negative implications on the unity and stability of the country.
According to him, in 2015 general elections, the North cried loudly that power should shift to the North after ex-president Goodluck Jonathan, from the South South geo-political zone. He said that it was that pro-north sentiment that made the Muhammadu Buhari presidency possible in 2015 after Jonathan's failed bid to retain his job.
Buhari however observed that the same people who clamoured for power shift to the North then are now opposing the same power shift to the South, in consonance with the principles of power rotation as regionally agreed at the twilight of military rule in the late 90s.
He emphasized that for the sake of equity and fairness, the presidential slot should further be micro zoned to the South East geo-political zone once it is ceded to the South, as according to him, the South East is the only zone in the entire South of Nigeria that has not produced a President or even Vice President for Nigeria, since the advent of Democracy in 1999.
Buhari however noted that the attacks against the Igbos presidency concept is mainly coming from those who are oblivious of the roles the Igbos have played and are still playing in the unity of Nigeria, saying that a lot of Igbos have made Nigerians proud both within and outside the country.
He observed that Anyim's reaction to some of those criticisms has been very re-assuring, emphasizing that his position has always been that of concern on how the nation can move forward.
According to him, "this is a man (Anyim) whose mindset is not just on looking at the challenges, but is more concerned about finding the solutions. Only someone with such positive dispositions can bring the desired leadership which is badly needed now in Nigeria," Ahmed Buhari said. NNL.
