As the race to Nigeria’s presidential election in 2023 gathers momentum governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State has added his voice to debate, saying it was the turn of the South to produce the next President.
El-Rufai made the call on Saturday on the Hausa Service of BBC, arguing that going by the country’s political arrangement, a southerner should take over from Muhamadu Buhari.
Buhari’s second term of four years ends in May 2023. He is from the north.
“The southern part of the country is supposed to produce the president come 2023. I don’t support a northerner to vie for the seat after President Muhammadu Buhari, based on Nigeria’s political arrangement,” El-Rufai said.
“That is why I came out and said that after President Buhari has been in office for eight years, no northerner should run for office. Let the Southerners also have eight years.”
He spoke less than two weeks after Mamman Daura, who is reputed to be one of the influencers behind Buhari, said that in choosing Nigeria’s next president, competence should be considered over rotational presidency.
“This turn-by-turn, it was done once, it was done twice, and it was done thrice… It is better for this country to be one…it should be for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere,” he also in an interview on the BBC Hausa Service in an interview in late July. He said this would ensure unity in the country.
According to El-Rufai while power rotation arrangement is contrary to the country’s Constitution, it is a political necessity that should acceptable to all parties.
He asserted that there is no developed country in the world that chooses its leaders on the basis of their origin.
“However, in Nigerian politics, there is an arrangement that we all believe on rotational leadership. We are aware of that. Anyone who denies that is wrong,” he said.
On the rumour that he has been nursing a presidential ambition, the Kaduna State governor denied the speculation.
“It has been said that I have loved the presidency since I was minister in the FCT. This is nonsense.
“I don’t want to be president. Only God decides someone’s future. Whether you like it or not, I have never shown interest in the presidency,” El-Rufai declared.
