The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi has opined that zoning for Nigeria’s presidency to the South in 2023, is not necessary but that any competent Nigerian could succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
The monarch said this when he appeared on Arise TV while trying to debunk reports that he has endorsed former Lagos governor Bola Tinubu for the 2023 presidency.
The opinion is coming as the North and Southern regions of the country are jostling for the top position, especially the South which is agitating that since Buhari who is from the North is completing his two tenures of eight years, it is not the turn of the South come 2023.
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar, former senate president Bukola Saraki, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto and Bala Mohammed of Bauchi and Hayatu-Deen Mohammed all from the North, have expressed their interests to contest the 2023 presidency.
In the South, politicians from the South East and Southwest have also expressed their interest, positing that the position of the presidency must rotate to the region.
However, the revered traditional ruler from the South, Ogunwusi said zoning should take the back seat in considering the next Nigerian leader.
“The issue of zoning; I have a different school of thought based on it. What is critical for me is equality across the board. Who is going to do the job? If the person coming from the South is going to do the job, so be it.”
He stressed that each presidential aspirant has their “competitive advantage, some have strength, some do not have the competence and some are not aided by culture.
“If it is a candidate from the North that can do it, then let us go ahead,” Ogunwusi added.
“I’m a royal father, I accepted this throne as a young individual. God actually brought me to the throne that has been in existence for hundreds of thousands of years, I have to support and pray for all,” Mr Ogunwusi said.
