2023: Obasanjo calls for southern presidency, cautions against emotional voting

Our reporter/ Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday asked Nigerians not to vote based at the polls in 2023.

Obasanjo, who spoke when the leadership of Mzough U Tiv, a Benue socio-cultural group, paid him a visit at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, Ogun state, said the elections should be a turning point for Nigeria.

The elder statesman further stated that he is in support of a change of leadership from the north to the south, and urged the middle belt to subsequently advocate for power to come to the region.

“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,” he said.

Obasanjo said with the growing population of the country, agriculture will be the solution to feeding Nigerians and not oil and gas.

“Only farming and agribusiness could tackle the nation’s growing population. Farming and agribusiness is what will feed the nation,” he said.

Obasanjo encouraged Tiv people to focus on farming and agribusiness, adding that he hopes to establish an industry in the state next year.

Earlier in his speech, Iorbee Ihagh, leader of the group, said the reason the group visited was “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”.

He asked the former president to consider the need for the establishment of a fruit juice industry in Benue state, herders’ attacks on Tiv land and the power-sharing formula.

“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,” he said.

“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 2031.”