Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dare Adeleke, has canvassed that the South should produce the next Nigerian president.

“The South has had six, including Ernest Shonekan, whose tenure was an interim headship of government and only lasted a few months before he was forced to hand over to Gen. Sani Abacha,” said Mr Adeleke, a former youth leader in the South-West.

He added, “It is therefore pertinent to note that one of the reasons why President Goodluck Jonathan was ousted was because, the North felt it had to complete its tenure, with the fact that late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who died while in power did not complete his tenure.”

The former zonal youth leader made this remark in an interview in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday.

“There is no other crucial time as now to be very frank about our existence as a nation and the anomalies along the way on our bumpy journey of nationhood. It is a fact that 10 out of 16 leaders of Nigeria to date are or were northerners,” he stressed.

The PDP chieftain reasoned that “if we were to adhere to the idea of rotational presidency, it is now time again for the South to unite and take over the mantle of leadership.”

He noted that those making a case for the northern presidency “are indeed not being fair to the South and may not be looking at the far-reaching implications of another northern president.”

Mr Adeleke noted that in the 2019 presidential election, PDP presented a candidate from the North, who it believed had the most credible credentials and required experience to move this country forward.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has done well in nation-building. He is also a highly detribalised Nigerian; but unfortunately, he did not get into power,” he added.

He, however, pointed out that at 75, “even if power was to be unfairly retained by the North, Atiku should not seek power again, but rather mentor younger generation to take the country to the promised land.”

Mr Adeleke added, “It is time for the South and I implore my brothers and sisters in the North to support a southern candidate in the spirit of fairness. Now is the time for the presidency to rotate southwards again. We are prepared.”

(NAN)