Ahead of the 2023 general elections, former President Olusegun Obasanjo might have disowned the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, by throwing his weight being Southern presidency.

According to a statement by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President, who supports change of leadership from the North to the South, encouraged the Middle Belt to continue advocating for a rotational presidency.

Obasanjo made the declaration at the weekend when the leadership of Mzough U Tiv (MUT), the apex socio-cultural group in Tiv land of Benue State, paid him ‘Appreciation and Friendship’ visit at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Penthouse residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The former President also Advising all Nigerians to eschew emotions ahead of the election, the former President said that was the only way to get things right in the elections.

“Obasanjo said he was in support for the change of the leadership of the country from the North to the South, while the Middle-Belt region should continue to advocate for rotational presidency for the country.

“If Nigeria is ready to get it right, the 2023 election should be a turning point. We should not go for emotion that will destroy us,” Obasanjo, who was conferred with the title of a “Great Warrior” of Tiv land by the socio-political group, said.

He also said with the growing population of the country, the oil and gas sector could no longer feed the nation, but agriculture.

According to the statement, Obasanjo enjoined Nigerians to see the country as for all, “to save it and restore to what God has created it to be.”
“Only farming and agric business could tackle the nation’s growing population. Farming and agric Business is what will feed the nation”, Obasanjo said.

He called on the Tiv people to focus on farming and agric business, stating that he had put the experience of having his farm burnt in Benue State behind him, disclosing that he would establish an industry in the state next year.

Earlier in his speech, the President-General of the group, Chief Lorbee Ihagh, said the group’s friendship visit “is basically to interface with you as our former Head of State, a political pillar, a nationalist and elder statesman to appreciate your overwhelming love, passion and concern you have demonstrated over the Tiv people”.

Chief Ihagh, who also said the visit was historic, listed three prayers for the former President’s consideration, including the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue State and inclusive national politics.

Also, was the issue of Fulani herders’ attack on TIV land and position on the Nigerian power sharing formula.

Ihagh further said: “With regards to the current power equation in the country, we in the Mzough u Tiv in conjunction with the Middle Belt Forum had unanimously resolved for power shift from the North to the South for fairness, justice and a true federalism.

“We want to call on your Excellency and other well meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principle of rotation and distributive justice. If this is enforced, the middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next president come year 2031,”

ganisucks:
I feel for Atiku. Well, he can manage the one billion votes from Dogara and the Northern Christian ghost town. Those pirates of the carribean votes will surely make him president.

SadiqBabaSani:
If no source then it is fake

We want to call on your Excellency and other well meaning Nigerians to strictly adhere to the principle of rotation and distributive justice. If this is enforced, the middle Belt would also be assured of producing the next president come year 2031,”

Cyberterror:
Nah now Obasanjo come. At least he has shown fairness by choosing to be silent on which part of the south it should go to. That should be up to voters to decide. I can see that Femi Gbajabiamila and Dimeji Bankole's pressure on him is beginning to pay off. It's being long we heard him mention Pandora or mingle with the 3rd class olodo.

ganisucks:

There's a source. Look at it well.

Cyberterror:
Nah now Obasanjo come. At least he has shown fairness by choosing to be silent on which part of the south it should go to. That should be up to voters to decide. I can see that Femi Gbajabiamila and Dimeji Bankole's pressure on him is beginning to pay off. It's being long we heard him mention Pandora or mingle with the 3rd class olodo.

toneroforever:


Some Yorubas that think they way u do r no different from emilokan himself. Super selfish breed of humans. The only respect the SW gets is just because of folks like Obj, Afenifere,Soyinka,Falana... The rest of u urchins r utterly disgusting. Glad other tribes r seeing beyond ur deception.

toneroforever:


Some Yorubas that think they way u do r no different from emilokan himself. Super selfish breed of humans. The only respect the SW gets is just because of folks like Obj, Afenifere,Soyinka,Falana... The rest of u urchins r utterly disgusting. Glad other tribes r seeing beyond ur deception.

Bobloco:
Tinubu should step down for Peter Obi


That is the honourable thing to do at this point in time

ElSudani:


The same Obj who was more insulted than Tinubu on nairaland by Igbos?

toneroforever:


Oga at times u may not agree with someone on a particular issue but when u check that person's character & opinions on so many other issues & u notice that he tries to a very large extent to be fair, even when the subject does not concern u directly,then u have to respect that person.
FYI, OBJ led the troops that crushed Biafran forces during the war. Yet he isn't vilified in Igboland. He was massively voted twice especially in 2003 despite Buhari's VP being an Igbo man.
Now I can't remember Igbos having any problems with Tinubu prior to 2015.
Many Nigerians (non Yorubas) had a problem with him not only because of his lead role in foisting Buhari, but especially because of his support for Buhari's re-election just because of his own emilokan.

ElSudani:


I have been on this website long enough to know that OBJ is even more insulted here than Tinubu. I honestly can't say how he is treated in Igboland but on Nairaland not even Buhari was insulted more than OBJ.