As tension is gradually steaming up for the 2023 presidential race, the Former President of Christian Association of Nigeria, His Eminence Sunday Mbang has said the country only needs a competent person irrespective of political zone.
Mbang made this known during an exclusive interview with Blueprint over the weekend in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital.
He noted that the present situation of the country does not demand “a green horn” but a highly intelligent president who can redeem the country from its current quagmire.
The prelate maintained that it would be wise for the country to even elect any of the former governors who had performed beyond reasonable doubt in his state, into office of the president, arguing that such individual has the depth of understanding on how the office could be run.
“I do not believe in these tribal groups, we should find somebody who is competent. We need a competent person even if it means he must come from the same area with the former person, it does not really matter.
“Though I can speak for some few persons from Igbo extraction like Peter Obi who had an unbeaten record as the Governor of Anambra state to be president, I do not like the idea of people glamoring for “it is my turn”, no, that is not what we need,” he said.
Commenting on the issue of restructuring, Mbang said it was erroneous for some group of persons to believe that restructuring means to divide the country.
The Prelate, who argued that restructuring provides a better option than the unitary system which the country was being ran, said it could save the country an embarrassment of both the federal government and states being broke.
“I heard that most people especially in the North when they hear about restructuring, they thought it is to divide the country. That is what I hear.
“Restructuring does not mean dismembering the country, it is just to handover the things that belongs to the states, for them to do and the federal government would have few things to do. So, when you hear that the federal government is broke and all the states are broke such can not happen in America,” he said.
On the issue of famers and herders crises in the country, he blamed the presidency of viewing the problem as South against the North when it should be treated as “cattle-problem”.
Mbang said ranches should be encouraged especially in the North where there are so many cattle to avoid the temptation of face-off with famers.
