… Igbos must benefit from rotation, Tinubu must have two terms
Following their call for an end to rotational presidency, a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Niger state, Hon. Jonathan Vatsa has on Saturday blasted the northern socio group Arewa New Agenda (ANA) saying that “your calculation was that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would die while in office.”
While condemning their call, the former Spokesman of the APC in Biger state told Journalists in Minna that until President Tinubu completes his two term of eight years and the Igbos have their turn as President, the rotational presidency stands.
While disclosing the reason for their outburst, Vatsa, a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism said “you can not shift the goal post in the middle of the game because it does not favor you.”
It should be noted that, a group under the auspices of Arewa New Agenda (ANA) had on Thursday in Yola, Adamawa state declared its opposing stance on the rotational presidency in Nigeria alluding to President Bola Tinubu’s “it is my turn” comment before the 2023 general elections.
The President of the group, Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi while addressing newsmen on the move, alleged that Northern Nigeria was shortchanged by the Tinubu led administration, despite its numerical strength to determine the political direction and the leadership of the country.
According to Vatsa who was the Spokesman of the APC in Niger state “with this their call, the Igbo man must test presidency and Bola Tinubu must do his term terms of eight years before that can take place.
“Then we will agree to whether there should be rotation or not. And if these two events take place everybody can go.”
“The reason, the North wanted Muslim-Muslim ticket was that, by their calculation, they had concluded that Asiwaju (President Tinubu) would die in office and a northern Muslim (Tinubu’s Vice) would take over.
“That was the genesis behind the Muslim-Muslim ticket and they promoted it. But because Asiwaju’s life is not in human beings’ hands and God’s time has not come for him, they are disappointed.
“Secondly, Asiwaju has refused to be arm twisted and they are not comfortable with most of the things that he is doing and his policies.
“Let us look at this critically, look at the Presidents from the military and civilians that have ruled Nigeria from the Northern extraction, has the presidency translated to anything? Has poverty left the North? Even if you give them presidency tomorrow, the North will still be poor because they are stealing the money and keeping in individuals pockets”.
He further cautioned them to speak for themselves and not the whole North adding that, “they are there threatening that they have the number. Which North are they referring to? Is it the geographical North or the one that is already in disarray being ravaged by bandits? There are killings in Zamfara, Katsina and other places everyday.
“Well, I have a feeling they are just trying to get attention. My advise to them is that, they should get ready because the rains have started coming, they should prepare to go to farm.”
