The Southern Solidarity Alliance (SSA) urges all registered political parties in Nigeria to elect and nominate presidential candidates of Southern Nigerian extraction.
This will guarantee that head or tale, the presidency will be retained by someone from the Southern region from 2027 to 2031.
This demand is anchored on justice, equity, fair play and pragmatic political rationalism.
8 year power rotation arrangement between North and South has been in practice in Nigeria since the re-introduction of democracy in 1999 and cannot be upended or suspended at this time.
In 1999. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo won and governed for a four year two consecutive terms of 8years.
He was succeeded by President Yar’ Ardua, who unfortunately died in office. The tenure was completed by President Jonathan, who was then elected to his first term of 4years. Later, Jonathan on his second term bid was defeated by General Buhari, who like Obasanjo, ruled for two four year terms of 8years.
It is very important that this tradition of two terms per region is respected to avoid unnecessary tension, bickerings and confusion, constantly ignited by the power tussles between the two regions. Anything that might rotate power after a single tenure is inimical to peace and should be avoided, most particularly at this time that interregional tension, rivalry, ethnic divisions and polarization have reached the needle point and boiling point.
Therefore for peace and tranquility as well as greater interregional bonding and understanding, it is better for all political parties to do the needful by electing and nominating very sound candidates of Southern extraction for the forthcoming presidential election.
