The Yoruba Stakeholders’ Summit Group, yesterday called on all major political parties in the country to zone their presidential slot to the South-East or South-South of the country as a way of promoting equity and fairness.
Speaking during a press conference in Lagos, Convener of the group, Mr Olufemi Lawson said that the South West region has had a fair share in governance in the present fourth republic and as such, should allow others.
He appealed to all genuine democrats among politicians of Yoruba extraction, aspiring for the Presidency come 2023, to throw their support, behind candidates from the two other geopolitical zones of the south in the overall interest of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria.
“We wish to use this medium to assert, that it is not yet our turn, as the people of the Southwest, and to demand, that all major political parties should zone their Presidential slot to the other geopolitical zones of the South, Vis-a-vis the South South or South East, which has never had a shot at the Presidency of Nigeria, since the advent of the current republic. This remains an important way to ensure equity and fair play ahead of 2023 presidential election.”
Corroborating his views, Co-Convener, Comrade Oladosu Rasaq said that for the purpose of reminder, in this fourth republic alone, South West region have produced a President in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo for eight years, Hon. Dimeji Bankole as Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives for over three years, while the position of Vice President is currently occupied by someone from Southwest
“Only in 2019, the nation’s 4th seat, that is, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, became occupied by another Yoruba man, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila. Then arises the question of our sense of equity and fairness, if some politicians assume that whatever political position is zoned to the southern Nigeria, must be taken by the Southwest. This impression need to Stop.
“We do not only want to appeal but demand that politicians who are asking that zoning should be jettisoned, or that zoning should no longer be considered, to realize that they are trying to perpetuate injustice, which is against the unity of our country.
“2023 is a crucial moment that will determine a lot, in the stability or otherwise, of our democracy. Nigerians should be given the opportunity, to elect a leader, who can stabilize the polity and move the country forward from where the administrations will handover in 2023. Ensure a peaceful polity will only be achievable, when we allow equity and Justice, in the distribution of power, between every component of the country.
