El-Rufai says the zoning arrangement in Nigerian politics needs to be respected.
Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State says the next President of Nigeria has to come from the southern part of the country and rule the country for another eight years.
In an interview with the BBC Hausa on Saturday, August 8, 2020, the governor said he would not support any northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
Also, contrary to the belief that he wishes to become Nigeria’s President and would like to contest in 2023, El-Rufai said it is nonsensical for anyone to believe he seeks the Nigerian Presidency.
The former FCT Minister explained that the idea of rotating the presidency between the southern and the northern part of the country is based on the nation’s political arrangement.
He said, “In Nigerian politics, there is a system of rotation, in which everyone agrees that if the north rules for eight years, the south will rule for eight years.
“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.
“If you look at how I am, I don’t take anyone to work with me for the zone he came from. The eligibility I look at is if who is entrusted to the public will hold it properly.
“It has been said that I have loved the presidency since I was a minister in the FCT. This is nonsense. I do not want the Nigerian presidency. God gives power, whether you like it or not, if He wants it, He will give it to you, but I have never sought the presidency of Nigeria, no one can say I have ever sought it.
Recall that President’s older nephew, Mamman Daura during an interview with BBC Hausa in July said the country should prioritise competence over zoning.
Days after Daura’s comment sparked criticism on social media, the presidency reacted to the criticism, saying the comment was Daura’s personal opinion.
Source: Pulse Nigeria
