2023 PRESIDENCY: Ex-Female Presidential Candidate Joins to Canvass for North Central President -By Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies

Ex-Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance (MAJA) in the 2019 election, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies has joined the several calls for North Central President in 2023, as several Youth Groups call for North-Central President. In an instance, A “Youth Group Calls For North-Central Presidency” on Aug 25, 2021 as reported by Abdul Mohammed Isa, Niger State. “A group of youths from North-central Nigeria, North Central Network For Better Nigeria, has urged registered political parties in the country to pick their candidates for the 2023 presidential election from the north-central geo-political zone of the country. The request, according to the group, was based on the fact that the north-central geo-political zone of the country has not produced the president of Nigeria since the country returned to civil rule in 1999.”

The Director-General of the group, Comrade Abdullahi Jibrin Muregi, who stated this during a press briefing in Minna Niger state Capital said that their demand is coming at a time that leaders of other zones are scheming to produce the President come 2023. Adding that, “We appeal to their collective consciousness for equity, justice and fairness drop their ambition and rally round the North Central Zone in its justifiable bid to produce the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.” “We believe that our demand is not out of place having painstakingly worked for other zones in the past to produce the presidency or to emerge as the Vice President of Nigeria through the large block of votes we always deliver to the winning political party in all elections since 1999,” Comrade Muregi said. Muregi further noted that when given the opportunity, the North Central Zone will provide purposeful visionary and result-oriented leadership to Nigeria.

He pointed out that the North-central zone of Nigeria will play its usual traditional role of uniting Nigeria as demonstrated by the likes of Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar who stopped the Nigerian civil war, the 1976 coup and return Nigeria to civil rule respectively. Muregi added that the agitation of the group will make the country remain United as doing so will be in the spirit of equity, fairness and unity of the country.

Another North group, speaking on the topic, “2023: It’s our turn, it’s our time to produce President – North Central Group” on September 9, 2021 is reported by Boluwaji Obahopo – Lokoja. The group known as, The North Central Coalition for Leadership (NCCL) has insisted that the zone must produce the president of the country in the next general election. The Director General of the group, Mr. Charles Oluwatoyin who spoke on Thursday hinged their agitation on fair play and equity in the polity of the country.

He further noted, “As the discuss of 2023 gets heated up and the narrative of who should carry on the baton from current President Muhammadu Buhari has taken over the media space and outside the media arena, with several deliberation of which region the cap fits and which does not, we the NCCL; a Pro North Central Presidency advocacy group have come once again to bear our mind and state clearly our stand. “In the history of our nation, there has never being such a time when as a people of the most marginalized region of the country, that our voices should be united and NCCL being the voice amongst many others that represents the expression of majority of people who are concerned about the progress of the region, we state clearly that it is our turn and time to lead our nation

“As a Nation we have been largely divided along ethnic and regional sentiments which in fact forms the bedrock upon which our suspicion against each other; a state of ideology which has bedevilled our progress and advancement as a nation, we must never continue to toe this part and deliver same retarded legacy to the generation that is coming behind. Nigeria belong to all of us and largely the Middle belt as the name implies holds the entire entity together and we are here to play that role from the front.

In practical terms, “Tracing leadership through the Nation’s history, the First Republic (1963 – 1966) produced President Nnamdi Azikiwe and Prime Minister – Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (SouthEast/NorthEast); The Second Republic (1979 – 1983 produced President Shehu Shagari and Vice President Alex Ekwueme (NorthWest/SouthEast); the Abortive Third Republic was won by M.K.O Abiola and Babagana Kingibe (SouthWest/NorthEast).”

“After several military regimes, the Fourth Republic was finally ushered in in May 1999 and then the South West has produced Olusegun Obasanjo who served for two tenures of 8 years. The South South has produced Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who spent 6 years in power. The Northwest however has produced 3 presidents and a total of 11years so far. Alhaji Shehu Shagari spent 4 years, The late Umar Musa YarAdua 2 years and President Mohammadu Buhari, who is into his second tenure. While other regions have also produced Vice Presidents; from NorthEast Alhaji Atiku Abubakar (8 years), Arc Namadi Sambo (NorthWest, 6 years), Prof. Yomi Osinbajo (SouthWest, 5 years so far), Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (SouthSouth, 2years). What is the offense of the North Central region!?

“The question that has bothered us as a region is whether we do not possess the needed qualification to lead the country considering our investment and perseverance with the other regions. Despite being greatly marginalized, we have kept our cool and have continued to hold true to the idea of a one indivisible entity. When will equity, fairness and Justice speak for our region? We can’t wait further, 2023 is our best time and we must put our all to actualize this lofty dream.

“Let me clearly state here that the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria never allotted the seat of the President of the Nation to any particular region hence any qualified citizen has clearly by the provision of this binding document contest for this highly esteemed position. We totally reject the continued relegation of our best heads across party lines to the role of party chairmanship as it has being over the decade. The position of the Chairman of any party is truly desirable but after many years of organizing party affairs, we realized that we deserved better and that better is the presidency. We say No! to political marginalisation which has brought nothing but backwardness and stagnation. We say No! to being viewed as the region unworthy of the presidential seat. We say No!

“While we again make a passionate and timely appeal on leaders from the region across party lines to form united front that would become a formidable force that cannot be neglected.; as a group we want to urge the leaders of the region to unite their strength, resources and human power together and ensure that the next president of the nation emerges from the North Central geo political zone. It is our time and we must let Nigerians know. On our part, we are putting research together in a bid to identify, verify and validate who would be our candidate from the North Central, after which our mechanisms would revolve around that individual and we would support the individual the best way we can.”.

“The North-central zone has paid its dues and played the role of stabiliser at a critical period in the nation such that now that it has leading presidential aspirants with the clout and vision to provide better governance, the other zones should support the aspirants. Rotation is equally a plus for our agitation.” “All the remaining five zones in the country have produced the president of the country while the North-central is yet to have a shot at it under a democratic setting. Name them: Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe of Southeast, Goodluck Jonathan of South-south, Olusegun Obasanjo of Southwest. Of course, the Northwest has had a shot at it up to four times, and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was from the Northeast. Our votes in the North-central are more than the Southwest votes. But because the Southwest has the press to make the noise, it always gets its ways. If politics is about numbers, then we should be placed properly.”

Further, similarly on Nov 21, 2021, the National Chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yabagi Yusuf Sani – Sani, noted that the region is well qualified to produce Nigeria’s president after Buhari leaves power in 2023. “It’s only the North-central that has not been given the opportunity to produce a civilian head of government. And people say we have produced military heads of state. That was out of personal adventures. Nobody was consulted here before they took power.

“Now, we are talking of merit; people that have skills, track record, and experience to give this country the leadership that it deserves. Unfortunately, it’s not about what you can offer, but where you come from. If at all zoning is about equity and fairness and giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging, then I think this time around it is the turn of the North-central; not any other zone. I can show you a map here. You can see each zone has had a civilian representation. “The only zone that is yet to produce a president or vice president is the North-central. So, if zoning in a civilian arrangement is about equity and fairness, the North-central should have it this time,” he argued.

Traditional rulers from the zone have not been silent on the quest of their political elites to rule the country come 2023. If anything, it appears they are part of the struggle. The Chairman, Olamaboro Local Government Traditional Council, Kogi State, and the Ejeh of Olamaboro, Enek’ojokpuche, Ujah Sani Simeon, said the North-central region should be supported to produce Nigeria’s next President in 2023. He made the call during a courtesy visit to the Gbong Gwom Jos and Chairman Joint Traditional Council of Chiefs and Emirs, Plateau State, Da. Jacob Gyang Buba in his Palace in Jos.

“There is nothing wrong for the entire country to support the North-central zone to produce the President of Nigeria in 2023. The North-west has done it, the Northeast has produced Vice President, the Southwest has governed Nigeria and currently has the Vice President and the South-south has been Vice President and later President, only the North-central has not been President or Vice President, therefore, they deserve the support of other zones to produce the kind of President Nigerians wants.”

“North-central is part of Nigeria. North-central has the right, like every other part of Nigeria. I believe your question is answered,” he said. Sources close to the former Senate President, while debunking claims he has plans to dump the PDP and seek the presidential ticket of another party, said Bukola Saraki will be seeking the presidential ticket of the PDP in 2023 in his quest to rule the country as a democratically elected president.

Also from the North-central, there are underground moves by Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to corner the presidential ticket of the ruling APC as he plans to succeed President Buhari in 2023. The two term governor’s alleged ambition is already causing ripples in his party as pro-zoning agitators have been knocking his aspiration. But he is alleged to be one of the main sponsors of the clamour for the North-central to produce the next president.

Again, speaking on 2023 Presidency: North-Central PDP on Nov 30, 2021, led by Professor Iyorwuese Higher, when the North-central PDP delegation visited the PDP Headquarters in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital has stated that, it was time for the geo-political zone to produce the next president of Nigeria after it had over the years supported other regions to enjoy the highest position in the country. According to Higher, “The nation right now is so divided and fragmented, we need a uniting force which the north-central is known for, to emerge and reunite the country again”.

He appealed to other zones in the country who had enjoyed the support of the north-central to emerge as president, to do everything within their powers to ensure that they support the north-central now. “The North Central has played a key role in the political development of Nigeria. It is expected that the rest of Nigeria will respond to our agitation as it did to a similar one in the past by the South-South zone when the country then produced Dr. Goodluck Jonathan as president”, Iyorwuese added.

The Chairman PDP North Central, Mr. Theophilus Dakarshan, explained that the zone had been instrumental to the emergence of so many Presidents in Nigeria right from the first republic and pleaded for the support of all Nigerians to elect someone from the zone as President in 2023. “The North-central zone had in the past given its unflinching support to other zones, we now appeal to them to reciprocate same to us”, he said.

Meanwhile, PDP Chairman in Nasarawa state, Mr. Francis Orogu, appreciated the party’s North-Central stakeholders for their efforts in ensuring that someone from the party will emerge as President in 2023 and assured that he was going to work with other leaders of the party to produce the best candidate to occupy the position.

As they conclude that, “The North-Central Zone presidency in 2023 will naturally be positioned to mend cracks in the body polity of our diverse but united nature which will amplify our equality in the zone.” Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies said it is not only analytically wise and succeedfuly right, but appeal to the collective consciousness of equity, justice, fairness and all old Generals from the military regimes, such as General Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar should blaze this trail for North-Central female presidency in Nigeria, as Dr. Mrs. Sarah Jibril has rightly said that, we have paid our dues.

I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, A WOMAN WILL EMERGE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!! – PMA; AND I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, A CANDIDATE FROM THE NORTH-CENTRAL WILL EMERGE AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!! – PMA