Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has kicked against rotational presidency and advocated competency and capacity as key criteria for electing the next president and not his ethnicity or region.
Bello spoke to State House reporters on Thursday after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
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The governor said that he might consider the calls on him to contest the 2023 presidential election.
He said: “For once, let’s get Nigeria fixed. We have practised as seemingly rotational presidencies since 1999 to date, let us evaluate our successes or achievements from this seeming rotational presidency between then and now.
“Why don’t we simply go for the best, after all, we copy this democracy from America and some of the developed world, how many of these countries are practising traditional presidency? You see, we are where we are today not because we are practising rotational presidency. If you want to go by that rotational presidency, then do perfect zoning. Go by perfect rotation. And if you go by rotation and whichever way you come from, I don’t think you should exclude where I come from. That’s number one.
“Number two, let us get a credible, sincere, patriotic, Nigerian to fix it. If you’re flying an aircraft, you don’t ask who is the pilot. If you take the operation in a hospital, you wouldn’t ask which doctor is this, is he from your zone, your tribe, your religion, all you want is the best pilot to fly you safely to your destination. All you want is you want the best doctor to handle you and deliver you safely from the operation.
“I think Nigeria is at that point now of seeking the best from anywhere in this country, irrespective of where he comes from. Thereafter, you balance, you remain in a position to reflect equity, fairness and justice. That is my position.”
He expressed optimism that it would not be difficult for him to get the backing of the South East clamouring to produce the next president as he said a south easterner is currently serving his administration as Director-General (DG) Research and Development and his speechwriter, Barrister Moses Okezie, from Anambra State.
“So, I want to believe that when the time comes, Nigerians will see reasons. Of course, already, they are calling on me that I should come and run, just a little time I have asked them to relax and let the time comes. When the time comes, it’s going to be overwhelming. It is going to be hope. The 1993 hope that was dashed will be revived and actualised in 2003.”
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