The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has declared that the issue of rotational presidency in Nigeria has been settled for good with the emergence of a President-Elect, Bola Tinubu, from the southern region of the country. Wike made this statement while commissioning a 5,000,000-litre Aviation Fuel Dispensing Depot at the Ibadan Airport in the Alakia area of Oyo State alongside his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde.
Wike’s statement is significant as it affirms the long-standing agreement within Nigeria’s major political parties that power should rotate between the North and South regions of the country. This agreement has been in place since the return of democracy to Nigeria in 1999 and has been adhered to, with the presidency alternating between the North and South.
The Governor’s statement is also a response to the controversy that has surrounded the 2023 presidential election, with some politicians from the Northern region of the country calling for a continuation of their region’s hold on power. However, with the emergence of Bola Tinubu, a Southern politician, as a presidential candidate, Wike believes that the issue of rotational presidency has been settled, and power will naturally shift to the South after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure ends.
Wike’s comments highlight the importance of power-sharing and rotation in Nigeria’s political landscape, as it helps to ensure that no region or group is marginalized in the allocation of political power. It also helps to promote stability and unity in a country that is ethnically and religiously diverse.
The Governor’s statement has been welcomed by many Nigerians, especially those from the Southern region, who feel that it is time for their region to produce the next president. However, it has also been criticized by some Northern politicians who feel that it is not a constitutional requirement and that the presidency should be open to all Nigerians, regardless of their region of origin.
Governor Nyesom Wike’s statement that power will naturally shift to the South after President Buhari’s tenure ends is a significant development in Nigeria’s political landscape. It reaffirms the importance of rotational presidency and power-sharing in promoting stability and unity in the country. Whether this will be accepted by all Nigerians remains to be seen, but it is clear that the issue of rotational presidency will continue to be a topic of discussion in the lead-up to the 2023 elections.
