Chief Ayo Adebanjo, leader of the Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere, stated that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Atiku Abubakar and the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) presidential candidates shouldn’t have been competing in the 2023 elections alongside Labour Party candidate Peter Obi.
Adebanjo stated that, in order to be equitable and fair to all geopolitical regions of the country, the major opposition party and the ruling party ought to have zoned their presidential slots to the South East.
This was made clear by the elder statesman in an interview with The Niche on Thursday.
In his own words, Unless Peter Obi wins the election—I say Peter Obi because none of the other candidates meet the qualifications. Are you being heard? Anything else in the opposite direction will cause chaos.
I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again without a shadow of a doubt. I declare categorically that Nigeria will end if the election is scuttled or manipulated, and Obi does not win.
Chief Adebanjo said, “Take for instance Bola Tinubu from my own region, on the basis of the agreement for peace and equity, the Yoruba people have had their share when Olusegun Obasanjo became the president,” explaining why Tinubu and Atiku are ineligible. Adebanjo also said that President Muhammadu Buhari was to blame for the country’s insecurity.
“Under Umaru Yar’Adua, power returned to the North after Obasanjo. After Yar’Adua, it returned to the South, where we had Goodluck Jonathan. After Jonathan, it returned to the North, where Muhammadu Buhari is about to finish his second eight-year term.
The South will regain power following Buhari. When it’s their turn, how do the Yoruba get back in? Or is it a South-South rivalry? The Southeast is the only region that has not had its turn. Pa Adebanjo stated, “We arrived at the Southeast not for any other consideration, but in accordance with the constitutional arrangement we have agreed to in the interest of peace, equity, and justice.”
“That’s why we arrived at the Southeast, and when I said it was the Southeast’s turn, I didn’t know if Obi would contest or not. You will recall that I was the first to advocate for the Southeast winning the presidency, when no political party had held primaries.
“How can a Northerner leave Aso Rock and another Northerner move in, according to Atiku Abubakar? Under Yara’Adua and Buhari, Northerners have had their own share. Thus, the North will win Atiku’s presidency for the third time. And the Southeast has no chance? Is that fairness? Because injustice to one is injustice to all, the South and minorities will not agree.
Pa Adebanjo stated that because Buhari has caused so much harm, “less we talk about him, the better.”
The leader of the Afenifere party stated, “My prayer is that God should keep us alive until May 29, 2023,” and accused Buhari of being responsible for the country’s recent wave of unrest. The better for us is to forget about Buhari’s administration as soon as possible.