Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo says that Nigeria no longer has the proverbial “national cake” to share like it had done some 40 years and counting.

“Forty years ago, we had a big cake to share, but today that cake has disappeared,” Mr Obaseki said while addressing four presidential aspirants of the PDP.

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki, who spoke on behalf of Mohammed Hayatudeen, Bala Mohammed, and Aminu Tambuwal, said they were in the state to canvas the adoption of a consensus presidential candidate ahead of the 2023 polls.

The governor had informed the politicians who were in Edo on a courtesy visit that the next president “must be somebody that Nigerians are ready to give ingredients to bake a bigger cake for us all.”

He stated that the country has never been in a difficult situation as it is, citing inflation and an ever increasing poverty rate.

“Things are really bad and difficult for our people. We have never had it this bad.

“We have never had the level of the combination of poverty and inflation, as inflation in Nigeria is pushing millions of people into starvation. We are also experiencing security challenges,” he said.

Mr Obaseki also lamented that several citizens had been kidnapped across the country recently.

“This is a new model in leadership selection where leaders with higher aspirations can come together for the good of the people.

“They are working towards a consensus candidate arrangement, knowing the task of becoming Nigeria’s president is enormous,” he added.

(NAN)