As political activities gradually gather momentum for the 2027 polls, the Abia State Chairman of Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign council in 2023, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya, has strongly advocated that all three ge-opolitical zones in Southern Nigeria, should unite behind President Ahmed Tinubu to “complete the turn of the South before power rotates to the North in 2031”.
The former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, particularly urged South East and the South South to collaborate with Tinubu’s South West to ensure his re-election in 2027.
Chief Ogbonnaya who is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress ( APC), argued that the North had no justification to jostle for the presidency in less than two years after a Northerner had been President of Nigeria, insisting that the South should be allowed to complete its own turn of eight years in the spirit of equity and fairness.
He, however, regretted that unlike the North “which always presents a united and cohesive front during elections, the South likes to sing discordant tones.”
Chief Ogbonnaya in a statement, expressed disappointment over the attitude of some Southern politicians who always allow themselves to be manipulated by some desperate Northern politicians against Southern interest.
The statement made available to Vanguard in Umuahia, read in part:” I had once raised the alarm that some of us in the South are allowing ourselves to be manipulated by some Northerners to work against ourselves. They are stoking divisions among us. It is time that we see through this charade, “he counselled.
Ogbonnaya, a two-time Commissioner in Abia State, described the recent coalition formed by some politicians in Nigeria as “a Northern agenda and a vehicle through which Northerners want to wrestle power from the South.”
The APC chieftain wondered why such a coalition was never formed by the North when one of their own, the ex-President Muhammadu Buhari was in power for eight years despite the pains his administration inflicted on Nigerians.
Ogbonnaya, Atiku’s former ally, urged Southerners to likewise, rally behind Tinubu to enable him “serve out his two terms the way Buhari did.”
The former Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Theodore Orji, further argued that the rotation of presidency between the North and South should not be disrupted to avoid the unnecessary backlash on the polity.
” This is not about Tinubu or tribalism. It is about the rotation of the presidency between the North and South. The North has done eight years. The South under Tinubu should also do eight years. “
Chief Ogbonnaya further argued that Tinubu remains the only route through which the North can regain power in 2031 and not through any other southern candidate.
” It is a matter of fact and indeed practical that only the candidature of Tinubu can ensure quick return of power in 2031. The North can not afford to gamble otherwise, “he submitted.
Chief Ogbonnaya, therefore, urged the South to “form a united team to sell Tinubu to the North and the entire Nigerians instead of engaging in the war of divisions among themselves.”
He said that President Tinubu had made some undeniable achievements in the last two years citing the education loan, increased revenue to states, uniform exchange rate, among others as some of them.
According to him, Tinubu’s achievements will speak for him in 2027.
Chief Ogbonnaya further said that contrary to claims by the North, President “Tinubu has been fair to all the geopolitical zones in the distribution of appointments and infrastructure”.
He, cautioned the South to be wary of the antics of desperate Northern politicians who want to hijack power at all cost.
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