Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has declared that the North cannot produce the next leader of Nigeria in 2023 after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-years rule. 

The PDP and the NNPP have northerners (Atiku Abubakar and Rabiu Kwankwaso) as their presidential candidates.

Mr Akeredolu noted that the North wanting to retain power after Mr Buhari’s regime would be met with stiff opposition from the southern region. 

“Take it or leave it; it is the minimum we can get. It must come to the South. The North cannot produce a president for eight years and still wants to retain it for another eight years. It is not going to work,” Mr Akeredolu said on Sunday.

Mr Buhari, from Katsina, northern Nigeria, would be rounding off his second term of eight years in office by 2023. 

Speaking at the ’40th Holy Ghost Convention Dinner’ of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, the Ondo governor asked the people of the South not to throw away the chances of producing the country’s next president. 

Mr Akeredolu, who doubles as the chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum, explained that he joined his colleagues in All Progressives Congress (APC) to fight for the zoning of the party’s ticket to the South. 

“Luckily, it did not only come to South; it came to the South-West. Now, where do we stand?” Mr Akeredolu asked. 

He described APC presidential standard-bearer Bola Tinubu as the best choice for the people while highlighting his experience and courage to tackle the country’s challenges.