Leader of Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has said that presidential aspirants from the South-West geopolitical zone including Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, should forget their presidential ambitions.

He said it was the turn of the South-East to produce Nigeria’s next President after the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in May 2023.

The elder statesman made his position known in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Tuesday.

According to him, it is an injustice for a South-West President to emerge in 2023 as ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo from Ogun State ruled from 1999 to 2007; while Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, also from Ogun State, has been in government since May 2015 and would have spent eight years in power by May 2023.

The 94-year old elder statesman added that the South-South zone has also had a shot at both President and Vice-President positions with ex-President Goodluck Jonathan between 2007 and 2010 (as VP) and from 2010 to 2015 (as President).

Adebanjo, however, said for Nigeria to have another President, the country must first be secured.

The nonagenarian said, “Right now, is there a country for them to be President? There must be one country first before you can talk of an election. Is this the country Jonathan handed over to Buhari? Whether a Southern or a Northern candidate, let us unite everyone. We can’t get everyone united until we change this constitution.

“Are you safe? Talk about security. How am I sure that I won’t be shocked when I go to the police station, when electoral officers, soldiers, and policemen are being shot dead and I can’t travel to Maiduguri safely?

“All those who are clamouring for Presidency, be it Jagaban (Tinubu) or Osinbajo, they should assure us of our safety first, that the country is safe, that we are one, then we talk of who is going to be President. They should forget about their ambitions now until there is safety. Nobody can go to the South-East now, and we are all living in denial.”

Asked if he was supporting Tinubu, Osinbajo, or any President from the South-West, the Afenifere leader said, “How can I back a South-West candidate? That is not equity. Has Obasanjo not done so for eight years? Has Osinbajo not done eight years as VP? Has Jonathan not done five years as President? Is the South-East not part of Nigeria?

“We want peace and equity. It is the turn of the South-East. I don’t talk ambiguously. It is the South-East that the thing must go; there is no doubt about that but my anxiety now is that before we say, South-East, have we got a country? Let us settle that before we say South-East is the answer. I am not ambivalent about it at all.”

IamWonderful:
Which south east is trusted enough to be trusted that not an IPOB member

mighty2:
Inconsequential 5% Ib hoe will never rule this country, wailing wailers should know this
I still stand gidigba on Tinubu's mandate

mighty2:
Inconsequential 5% Ib hoe will never rule this country, wailing wailers should know this
I still stand gidigba on Tinubu's mandate

foryourmindlol:
[s][/s]
God forbid. Let Shekau be president of Nigeria than an afonja skull miner be allowed to go bear Aso Rock.

The one we all supported Obasanjo was repaid by backstabbing ad hatred on GEJ who was not even an Igbo man.

mighty2:
wailing is allowed, just know that no human from c*rsed ib hoe tribe will ever rule this country, know this and know peace
On Tinubu's mandate i stand

foryourmindlol:
[s][/s]
God forbid. Let Shekau be president of Nigeria than an afonja skull miner be allowed to go bear Aso Rock.

The one we all supported Obasanjo was repaid by backstabbing ad hatred on GEJ who was not even an Igbo man.

foryourmindlol:
[s][/s]
LMAO. Buhari the cow that your dumb tribe prefer is still president for just 7 years and your brothers are selling human head for 2k in Ogun state.

Late Osama Bin Laden the terrorist has more chances of being exhumed, getting a Nigerian passport and being elected the president than any slimmyy ewedu-guzzling drug pusher or yahoo pastor from the Southwaaste.

If you like drink Sniper like Awolowo. No more pity this time. Obasanjo that we gave you free of charge we have seen how you repaid us.

mighty2:
we have told you guys several times that we will never deny you your only power(wailing) but we will make sure no flat headed, dirty looking akpu munching gor*lla from godfors*ken ib hoe tribe rule this country
On Tinubu's mandate i stand

mighty2:
Inconsequential 5% Ib hoe will never rule this country, wailing wailers should know this
I still stand gidigba on Tinubu's mandate

mighty2:
wailing is allowed, just know that no human from c*rsed ib hoe tribe will ever rule this country, know this and know peace
On Tinubu's mandate i stand

HarunaWest:
Power is taken and not given. The Igbos want to be given power on a platter of gold. It would not work. We already agreed that the presidency is going to either the SS or SW. If una scuttle am, we go retain am. After all NC and NE still dey agitate.

mighty2:
i mean am, dirty looking descendant of ap* from c*rsed ib hoe tribe will never rule this country

tinsel:
Why are they not telling the likes of Atiku also to drop his ambition?