Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

The position of the Southern governors that the 2023 pres­idency should be zoned to the Southern part of the country appears to have divided the Ni­geria Governors’ Forum (NGF), as state governors are not on the same page on the issue, Daily In­dependent has gathered.

According to the communiqué by the Southern governors read by Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, “The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimous­ly agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between South­ern and Northern Nigeria and re­solved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the southern region.”

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who is the chairman of the NGF, was also present at the Southern Governors’ Forum where the decision was reached.

In an apparent response to his Southern counter­parts, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the weekend said the 1999 con­stitution does not recognise the zoning of presidency.

Bello, who is from the North-Central zone of the country and is seeking to contest the presidency in 2023 on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), said con­sideration should be given to merit rather than zoning.

“On zoning presidency to a particular zone in 2023, we must apply equity in the process. Democracy is all about free will. Let no po­litical party limit the choice to a particular zone.

“Zoning is not recognised in the 1999 constitution, it’s absolutely unconstitution­al. If we must continue with the sentiment of rota­tional presidency, it’s okay, but let’s do it right in the interest of equity, fairness and justice.”

A credible source in NGF, which is the umbrella body of the 36 state governors in Nigeria, said some North­ern governors were shocked by the decision of their Southern counterparts on the “future of the country post-2023 without carrying them along”.

According to him, being a national issue that is not limited to the Southern re­gion alone, the issue should have been discussed among the governors like every other issue that affects the whole of the country and not the manner the South­ern governors treated it as a “coup against the other part of the country.

“Yes, I can authoritative­ly tell you that the 36 gov­ernors who are members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum are not on the same page on the issue of the zon­ing of the 2023 presidential ticket.

“Some of the members of the NGF, especially those from the Northern part of the country, felt it is a very sensitive national issue, it should have been discussed among them, instead of what their colleagues in the South are doing by treating it as a regional issue.

“I am sure if the issue was tabled at NGF meeting, those in support of zoning the presidency to the South in 2023 may still carry the day because we have seen some Northern governors who have publicly said it must be the turn of the South in 2023. I know the Kaduna State governor, Na­sir El-Rufai, has said that severally.

“The issue of the 2023 presidency is not entirely a PDP or APC affair. It is also neither a Northern gover­nors’ nor Southern gover­nors’ affair. It is a burning national issue that should be agreed upon by all stake­holders, especially by the state governors as repre­sented by the NGF”, he said.

Also speaking, a former governor in the North-East­ern part of the country, said it is very likely that the po­sition of the Southern gov­ernors will divide the NGF.

While sharing the view that the issue of zoning the presidency in 2023 is a national issue, he, however, said it cannot be discussed at the NGF level based on the ambition of some of the governors both in the North and Southern part of the country.

“Yes, I believe there will be cracks in the NGF. If you consider the fact that some of them have presidential ambition. If you look at it, Fayemi is the chairman of the NGF while Governor Aminu Tambuwal is the deputy. They both have pres­idential ambition in 2023.

“There is no way they can discuss that at the Governors’ Forum meeting because Tambuwal who is from the North will see it as an attempt to shut him out from the race while the decision by the Southern governors clearly favours Fayemi.

“I also know someone like Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and the Kogi governor may not agree to the idea that the ticket be zoned to the South. They will rather argue that it should be thrown open. So such a meeting will be ran­corous”, he said.

When contacted by Daily Independent, Abdulrazaque Bello Barkindo, Head, Me­dia and Public Affairs of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, said the issue of zoning is a political issue which the NGF does not dabble into.

“The Nigeria Gover­nors’ Forum does dwell on political issues. Only peo­ple who represent APC or PDP can respond to that. The issue of the zoning of the 2023 presidency is a po­litical statement. It is not part of what we discuss, so I can’t comment on that. We don’t do politics at the NGF”, he said.

https://independent.ng/cracks-in-ngf-over-southern-govs-2023-presidency-position/

South South and South West are on the same page regarding 2023 presidency except SE which is actually expected..

They are still yet to find their bearings

As for some Northern governors, some of them are in support of the 2023 southern presidency

Those from the APC who are part of the forum are simply spies and are there to help undermine wateva plans the Southern Governors come up with...

Nbotee:
Those from the APC who are part of the forum are simply spies and are there to help undermine wateva plans the Southern Governors come up with...

So the Southern Apc governors are spies even for the fact of their resolution about southern presidency in 2023.

Please what should we call the SE governors that chickened out from the meeting? Saboteurs?

Alright

this just shows that the North was never ready to relinquish power in 2023,coz any southern president will qaush boko bandits once he takes power and you know that its business for the northern elites.

i don't think so. are you saying Fayemi and Akeredolu are spies?

Nbotee:
Those from the APC who are part of the forum are simply spies and are there to help undermine wateva plans the Southern Governors come up with...

just the way Goodluck Jonathan crushed it abi

insidelife22:
this just shows that the North was never ready to relinquish power in 2023,coz any southern president will qaush boko bandits once he takes power and you know that its business for the northern elites.

bolaayenimo:
i don't think so. are you saying Fayemi and Akeredolu are spies?

I wouldn't rule that out... Their Loyalty lies with their party and party leaders, forget all the eye service

Fvck the NGF.

The 17 governors of the south are all in agreement.

Ortom of Benue has thrown his weight behind the position of the Southern Governors.

Same with Zulum of Borno.

Elrufai of Kaduna.

Even Ganduje of Kano.

That’s 4 governors out of 19. That reduces the governors in opposition to just 15.

Add 4 governors from the north to 17 southern governors, and you have 21 governors against 15.

Remember that not all those who haven’t spoken in support are against.

So once again, fvck the NGF. Fvck the opposing northern governors.

Gworo chewing bastards!

Normal

They are all mad,same crooks in different parties

Wow

Crack or no crack, the presidency is coming south in 2023.

Nbotee:
Those from the APC who are part of the forum are simply spies and are there to help undermine wateva plans the Southern Governors come up with...

Try and do brain servicing. I will give you engine oil as part of my contribution to avoid another psychiatric patient on the streets

thundafire:
They are all mad,same crooks in different parties

Same crooks, different pipe.

Ok

Let the division continues.Southern Governors must never back down.

I knew it

Fulani Born to rule will never allow peace in the country

joyairemiya:
Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos


https://independent.ng/cracks-in-ngf-over-southern-govs-2023-presidency-position/

Northerners always want to be involved when Southerners are making decisions, but whenever they are doing theirs they don't involve Southerners

BUHARI, MACBAN, FUNAM BOKOHARAM ISWA BMF-BOKOISWA IS THE MISCHIEF MAKERS!!!

All these paperweight northerners such as Bala Mohammed, Tambuwal and Yaya Bello can't win presidency

Why won't there be cracks

When the northerners think they can dictate to people

Monogamy:
South South and South West are on the same page regarding 2023 presidency except SE which is actually expected..

They are still yet to find their bearings

As for some Northern governors, some of them are in support of the 2023 southern presidency

LIES

Monogamy:


So the Southern Apc governors are spies even for the fact of their resolution about southern presidency in 2023.

Please what should we call the SE governors that chickened out from the meeting? Saboteurs?

You definitely can't live a day without SE and that's the only way you get erection on NL.

May be Southern Governors now has two fora, one for SW & SS, and SE.

You think if it is zoned to the South, it will be given to SW right?

You called SE Saboteur when it waa clearly a Southern that sabotage Southern position in 2015.
You can accuse SE of anything but not Sabo. When an igbo man stands with you, he does that to the end.

Imagine it was southerner in power in the last 6years, automatically the leadership will be going north.

Its greed, wickedness, unbelievable for ba region wish to keep presidency alone to themselve.

Am not from South, but power shud go immediately to de south.

If possible, it shud be rotated around the 4 corners of the nation. But greed, self righteousness, wickedness will not allow some selfish people

Why should the northern governors be shocked?
Are they expecting southerners to accept political enslavement from the north for eternity?
I don't understand! So in their mindsets, the really believe that irritating mantra that they "were born to rule"?

Unbelievable, these people..

They should stop disturbing themselves about 2023 abegii...

2023 come fast biko....

As far as we are concerned,
#STARBOY and Zulum
Come 2023 Insha Allah,
By Gods able Grace.

STARBOY all da way......

Osinbajo, The great Man

God bless our amiable Vice president Prof Yemi Osinbajo.
God bless Nigeria.

Our own @[/b] be say : [b]STARBOY and ZULUM all da Way.

Come 2023 BGG,
STARBOY and ZULUM we dey for una.
Whether the evil ones like it or not,
Nigeria will succeed.

Serveyouright:

The best for the job so far. If only greedy men in politics will allow this combo to fly.

We sane, good, honest and hardworking Nigerians will do all in our power to make this Combo work.
That is why we all must come together.

Nigeria will be great again in our lifetime

PYO : Man of the people.... Sane people we mean.
Sane, honest and hardworking Nigerians.

Mexzy4sho:

one can't deny that this combo would be the best to beat currently in Nigeria.
Manna, you make sense for here.

Now, clap for yasef