Story from Kenneth AFOR, Lagos
Sequel to last week’s demand in a communique issued by the Southern Governors’ Forum (SGF) that the presidential ticket should be zoned to the region in 2023, this is rather causing a steer in the country’s political scene.
According to Saleh Alhassan, National Secretary of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore, the demand of the SGF may not be feasible following their decision to ban open grazing in the region.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s next president should come from the South – Southern Governors
READ ALSO: Insecurity: Southern states will enact anti-open grazing law in September – SGF
He said herders are not concerned about where the presidency is zoned to in 2023, but warned the southern governors against blackmailing the north to get what they want.
His response may be sending a shock wave to the camp of the likes of Bola Ahmed, a former governor of Lagos State and national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as Professor Kingsley Moghalu, a former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) who many are aware of their ambition for the country’s number one job.
“They (the Southern governors) are hungry for power. Why are they making open grazing an issue? Is it the only problem in the country? They may not even get the power,” he said.
“For herders, it doesn’t matter where the president comes from but if they want the power to move to the South, should it be through blackmail? It should be by negotiation, campaign and strategy as well as political understanding. And mind you, this thing is based on numerical strength.
“If they (Southern governors) want to blackmail the North, they may not get the presidency. They are only hungry for power with the direction they are going,” he explained.
He maintained that herdsmen cannot leave the south because governors have not provided alternative arrangements before slamming a deadline on open grazing.
“Fulani herdsmen cannot move anywhere. The Southern governors have not made any alternative (provision) for them. You cannot just drive away from an economic group,” Alhassan stated.
He advised those interested in vying for the office of the presidency to start building their campaign structures, instead of resorting to blackmail.
“Let them begin to build structures, come out and campaign. “Is there any serious Igbo man that wants to be president? Have you seen any? It is not that people will just carry power and give you, you must work for it by building structures.
“So, if Tinubu wins the APC primary tomorrow, it is because he has built the structure and we will vote for him. Is he not a Southerner?”, he added.
