Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has commended the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for their support of a southern presidency. Speaking at the opening of the Akpabu-Egbeda road in Emohua Local Government Area on Friday, Wike said he was one of the apostles of power shift and maintained that it had nothing to do with political parties, but rather with the unity and oneness of Nigeria.
Bola Tinubu, who ran under the APC, was declared the presidential election winner on March 1, while Atiku Abubakar, who ran under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), came in second. As a member of the PDP, Wike did not back Atiku’s campaign, as both the presidential candidate and the national chairman cannot come from the same part of the country, according to the party’s rules.
“I thank and commend the people of Emohua local government for standing firm to support the southern presidency,” Wike said. “I did say as one of the apostles of power shift; I maintain it has nothing to do about the party (sic). It has to do with the unity of Nigeria; it has to show the oneness of Nigeria. That is why I commend the APC governors who came out boldly to say despite the fact that they are in power, they said no, this country we are all one.”
The governor added that if Nigeria is to remain united, power must shift to the South. “I commend them [APC], so whether you voted for [Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter] Obi or you voted for Asiwaju [Tinubu], I have no problem with you, as far as you stood for the southern presidency,” he said.
As the gubernatorial and state assembly elections approach on March 18, Wike encouraged the citizens of the state to protect their polling stations from bullying and snatching of ballot boxes. He also expressed confidence that he would win all 32 assembly seats in the state after winning “three over three” in the senatorial elections on February 25.
Wike’s call for power to shift to the South has been echoed by several other leaders across the country. The rotation of the presidency between the North and South was agreed upon at the end of the military regime in 1999, with the presidency alternating between the two regions. However, some Northern leaders have called for the continuation of power in the North, citing the need for continuity and stability.
The PDP has yet to decide on its presidential candidate for the 2023 election, but many believe that the party will choose someone from the South to challenge the APC’s Tinubu. The APC has also yet to officially announce Tinubu as its presidential candidate, but he is widely expected to run.