The Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Campaign Organisation has described the 11 Northern All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors as worthy patriots for their decision to support the power shift to the South.

Bayo Onanuga, spokeman for the campaign organisation, in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, said the governors should be celebrated by Nigerians.

“Our APC northern governors have shown that the APC believes in power rotation in the true spirit of national equity and justice,” he said.

“Unlike the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that abandoned its zoning policy for hegemonic political expediency, ethnic and religious calculations.”

The PDP had at its presidential primary on May 28, elected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, beating his closest challenger, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. 

Mr Abubakar hails from northeastern state of Adamawa.

According to Mr Onanuga, PDP’s decision to abandon its zoning policy grossly undermined the party’s commitment to the 1999 Constitution.

The spokesperson further added that the 11 northern APC governors had restored the confidence of millions of Nigerians and party members in the greatness and unity of the country.

“These governors are patriots and honourable men who will be remembered for acting to save Nigeria from potential political crisis and another round of national distrust and mistrust.

“With this decision, the future of APC as the governing party in Nigeria is very bright as a true national party.

“The party can now proceed to hold the presidential primary convention as a united, strong and viable political platform by electing a capable presidential flag bearer,” he said.

He expressed confidence that the party’s delegates would make the right choice by giving Tinubu the honour of flying the flag of the APC as its presidential candidate.

On Saturday, 11 governors from the North, in a statement, announced their decision to support a power shift to the South after the end of the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governors, while urging presidential aspirants from the region to step down from the 2023 presidential race, said, “the decision to support power shift to the South is in the best interest of the country.”

The northern APC governors also commended their Jigawa counterpart, Governor Abubakar Badaru, for withdrawing from the race ahead of the party’s presidential primary election slated for June 6 to 8.

Among the governors who signed the communique at the end of the meeting where the decision was taken, are Governor Aminu  Masari of Katsina State, Sani Bello, Niger; Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa and Professor Umara Zulum, Borno.

Others are Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau, Dr Umar Ganduje, Kano State; Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and former Governor of Sokoto State, Senator Aliyu Wamakko; Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Kaduna State; Muhammad Yahaya, Gombe state, and Bello Matawalle of Zamfara. 

(NAN)