A traditional ruler in Osun state, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdurRosheed Akanbi, on Friday said power must shift to the South of the country in 2023 failure of which he would join other monarchs to rally support for the Yoruba nation.
The monarch in a statement through his chief press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, said the Yoruba nation agitators would be vindicated if power was retained in the North.
He said the Southern candidates should be allowed to compete among themselves, adding that the conventional power shifting was cementing the unity of the nation.
The monarch, who appealed to Northern traditional rulers, notable politicians and stakeholders, to intervene and support the power shift to the South, recalled how his traditional voice doused the tension of the agitators.
He said Southern candidates were credible and capable to lead the country, noting that “there is no justification for denying them power for the unity of the country.”
“We have a capable and credible candidate from Southern Nigeria vying to be president of Nigeria. The conventional power rotation has contributed immensely to cementing the unity of Nigeria. Retaining the power in the North will spur further agitations likely to question the oneness of Nigeria.
“I’m appealing to Northern traditional rulers and stakeholders to consider the Southern presidency in the interest of fairness, equity and unity. President Muhammad of Northern extraction has almost completed two terms of years. In fairness, power should return to the South “Retaining power in the North will fuel agitations. We hope some of us who quenched the previous protest will not join should the power remain in the North,” he said.
