July 12, (THEWILL) – The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has faulted Governor Yahaya Bello, over recent comments on rotational presidency.
The Kogi State Governor had at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday, July 9, described rotational Presidency as “unconstitutional,” adding that, “Nigerians should be allowed to make their choices for the best candidate to emerge for the top post.”
Ohanaeze, in a statement on Monday, signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, chided the Governor, saying he had demonstrated a remarkable obsession with ambition shortly after providence paved way for him to be sworn in as a Governor in 2015 at an impressionable age of 40.
Ohanaeze pointed out that, “There is no doubt that Bello has a date with destiny going by a smooth political ascendancy that life has presented to him.”
It expressed fears that the youthful Governor “is embarking on a political adventure that lacks both conscience and principle.”
Ohanaeze noted that all the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the inner still voice or consciece.
The Group said, “Governor Bello was still a student, studying accountancy at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, when an agreement was reached between the North and the South with respect to Rotational Presidency.
“The meeting was held at the National Universities Commission Conference Centre, Abuja, in 1998.
Dr. Chuba Okadigbo spoke on behalf of the South, while Alh. Abubakar Rimi spoke for the North. The likes of Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Chief Solomon Lar, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, etc were at the meeting.
“The Nigerian statesmen examined the merits and demerits of zoning and rotation of power between the composite zones in Nigeria. At the end, it was resolved that the presidency be conceded to the South and that it would rotate between the South and the North in the interest of equity, unity and corporate existence of Nigeria.
“The foregoing was the basis for the emergence of presidential candidates of the mainstream political parties from the South West in1999. Since then, the patriotic and peace-loving Nigerians have adhered to the rotation principle such that at the end of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo second tenure, President Musa Yar’Adua was elected; Goodluck Jonathan and then President Muhammadu Buhari.”
The Group explained that it was on that basis that the Southern governors resolved in the Lagos meeting that the South should produce the next President of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari.
It, therefore, advised Bello that it would serve his interest better if he supported the resolution by his Southern colleagues; more so as “he is still young.”
Ohanaeze enjoined Bello to embrace the ethical functional relationship between the morality of an agreement and the legality of the Constitution.
It contended that for clarity sake, “Morality is the universal foundation of Laws. On the other hand, law should be seen to stand in defence of morality.”
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
