North is ready for a power shift to the South - Arewa group

The Arewa Mandate Initiative has stated that the North is ready for a power shift to the South after President Buhari's tenure in office, in an effort to assuage Nigerians' fears and apprehensions over a perceived notion that the political elites in the North are plotting to keep power in the center beyond 2023.

This was said in a statement provided to journalists by its Coordinator, Malam Muhammd Mubarak.

Mubarak stated that the majority of North African interest groups have supported the North-South rotating presidency and are committed to its complete implementation by 2023.

He said that the committee reached their decision after speaking with a variety of political organisations, particularly in the platforms of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the north, over the previous three months.

He claimed that evidence obtained throughout the period demonstrated the Northern political elites' determination to ensuring that Nigeria's next president comes from the southern half of the country.

"As the All Progressives Congress, APC, congresses and National Convention approach, we are compelled to revisit the issue of power rotation between the North and South of Nigena, in order to dispel the notion in some quarters that the North is plotting to keep power in the centre beyond 2023," he said.

"We advise those who may be nursing this feeling to better look for something else to do, as the question of power shift to the south is a settled matter

"Our consultations across numerous political groups, especially on the All Progressives Congress, APC, platforms across the north within the last three months, have shown evidence of the commitment to ensuring that the next President of Nigeria, emerges from the southern part of the country.

"The prevailing mood among the APC Northern family is that for Nigeria to survive and prosper in peace and harmony, the principle of power rotation must be respected and adhered to by all stakeholders in the Nigerian project," Mubarak said

Furthermore, he said that while the North is looking forward to the south to put forward the best and most acceptable material for the office of the President, the Arewa Mandate Initiative, had conducted a survey of the likely personality that could be said to possess the credentials needed to occupy the exhausted office of the country.

"Among those that the North might be looking out for, include, the current Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipriye Sylva, from Bayelsa state, the current Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amechi, from Rivers, and Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, a former Senate Leader from Cross River state, all from the south-south.

"For the southeast, names like the former Governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, the current Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Chris Ogbonnaya Onu, current Governor of Ebonyi, David Umahi and the former Senate President, Dr, Ken Nnamani, are listed as front runners for the plum job.

"In the southwest, the Arewa may be looking at names like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of APC, current Governor of Ekiti, Kayode Fayemi, current Minister of Works, Mr. Raji Fashola and current Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as likely materials with the requisite qualification for the office of the president.

"Though the North might not want to interfere with the process of selecting the best out of the gentlemen that have been listed on its survey, there is a very strong indication that there could be a dark horse among them who may be most preferred across the board, on account of his impeccable records both public and private service, his interconnectivity with various ethnic and religious groups, which are major considerations by the Villa.

"While the Arewa mandate Initiative, already has a clue on who might be that personality among the names already mentioned, and gets the North's endorsement, sources at the presidency have hinted at the Strategy of settling for a former president from the south, as a compromise, in the event that things get to ahead.

"We are also aware, and assured that everything is being done by the leaders of the party, towards ensuring a seamless nomination process that will be credible and accepted by the majority of the party members and Nigerians in general," Mubarak added