2023: North may plunge Nigeria into crisis over leadership tussle, says Olajide
- The controversy surrounding power shift in 2023 is still a major topic in Nigeria
- Dr. Kunle Olajide of the Yoruba Council of Elders is of the opinion that the situation could cause a crisis in the country
- He, however, said it is the turn of the southern region to produce the next president
The spokesperson of the Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE), Dr. Kunle Olajide has warned that the campaign by leading northern politicians and elders for the north to retain power in 2023 is capable of plunging Nigeria into a major crisis.
Olajide made the comment during an interview with Daily Sun published on Saturday, October 12.
He said calls for scrapping of zoning by Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Alhaji Bashir Tofa and some groups in the north are unpatriotic.
He said there should be no controversy over 2023, stressing that it is the south’s turn to produce the next president in 2023.
His words: “Nigeria is a fragile country, and presently the country is tottering and bleeding, politicians have to watch it. They must not make careless statements or remarks that can plunge Nigeria into a crisis.
“This is what el-Rufai, Tofa and others calling for the scrapping of zoning are doing. If they truly love Nigeria, they should stop making inflammatory statements. They should not allow their personal interests and greed to put Nigeria’s unity in jeopardy.
“Nigeria is already deeply divided, and scrapping zoning is like inviting anarchy. Scrapping zoning will create further division among Nigerians. The present zoning arrangement should not be tinkered with. Scrapping zoning will have grave consequences for Nigeria.”
He further stated that those who say zoning should be scrapped are insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians
He opined that the north itself is now divided, adding that the people in the Middle Belt have suggested that they are no longer part of the region.
Olajide went to say the jostling for power at the center will stop if Nigeria is restructured, adding that restructuring will also put an end to all the present socio-economic woes facing Nigeria.
He urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take the issue of restructuring serious, and ensure that he does it before the expiration of his second term.
Meanwhile, the chairman of Northern Elders Forum, Professor Ango Abdullahi has stated that the north can keep power for 100 years if it likes, saying democracy is all about numbers and the region has the numerical strength to achieve it.
Abdullahi said zoning or power shift, which many southern leaders are agitating for is unconstitutional and would not be supported by northern leaders ahead of the 2023 polls.
100 days after, what has President Buhari achieved? | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
