By Nicholas Ojo
The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has stated that for the sake of fairness and Nigerian unity, the successor to President Muhammadu Buhari must come from the Southern part of the country.
He said it would be an insult for another Northerner to emerge as Nigeria’s President after Buhari.
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Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State had in November insisted that it is only right for a southerner to succeed Buhari in May 2023.
He spoke at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium during the flag-off of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state-level campaigns in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Ortom said he was the first governor from the north to back the Southern Presidency agenda which he said is in the interest of fairness and justice.
“Nigerians, for the sake of equity, fairness, and justice, expect that after eight years of President Buhari, the next President should go to the south irrespective of political affiliation and that is the right thing to do. We are Nigerians and we must ensure that all of us work together,” he said.
However, Wike, who faulted the move for another Northerner to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, said those agitating for narratives are insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians, adding that they do not promote national unity.
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Wike spoke at St. Paul’s Anglican Church in Port Harcourt, the state capital, on Sunday, as contained in a statement by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.
The governor said the North would be cheating other regions by producing Buhari’s successor in 2023.
Wike said: “You play on people’s intelligence; you say Nigeria is not ripe for Muslim-Muslim ticket, I agree. But Nigeria is ripe for presidency to remain in one zone? I mean, just look at the insult. You blow hot and cold.
“Most of you just sit there; you don’t ask yourselves questions. Somebody continues to sell these kinds of cheap ideas. You don’t ask the person, I agree with what you are saying, but look at what we are saying here.
“Your party wants the presidency to go to the same zone where President Muhammadu Buhari is coming from. Who is cheating whom?”