Leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has alleged that some political gladiators of northern extraction are sowing discord among southerners.
Adebanjo said this is part of northern bigwigs grand plan not to relinquish power in 2023.
Adebanjo levelled the allegation on Monday when he spoke during a Greater Nigeria Conference (GNC) in Abuja.
The gathering was organised and well-attended by political bigwigs in the South East consisting of serving governors, former governors, senators and others.
The theme of the conference was ‘Quest for presidency of South East extraction #togetherwecan#
Adebanjo said the Northern political gladiators who have been vocal proponents of zoning are now jettisoning the arrangement because they wanted to retain power in 2023 after expiration of president Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.
He said if it were by merit and competence and not the principle of zoning, some former presidents of Northern extractions wouldn’t have been president.
He said, “Let’s tell Nigerians where it should be and stop deceiving ourselves. We are now at a crossroads. My position is to say it as it is.
“The North does not want to yield power and the only thing they know is to divide the South so that they can have power in 2023. They want to divide the South West first. Now that is the turn of the South East, they (North) are now talking of competence, merit.”
Chief Adebanjo also asked former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Nyesom Wike and other aspirants from the South South to shelve their presidential ambition and allow the South East to produce President Buhari’s successor.
He said, “I’m appealing to Wike and other aspirants from the South South, they are not helping matters. People like Jonathan are not helping matters. President Goodluck Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced.”
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