A frontline activist and National President, Campaign for Dignity in Governance (CDG), Comrade Razaq Olokoba has given reasons for the political power at the centre currently in the north should shift to the south-west.
Olokoba, in a chat with newsmen in Lagos stated that, “shifting of power down south will cement further the unity and peaceful coexistence currently being enjoyed in the country,” saying, “such arrangement would further erase the mutual suspicion from among all the ethnic nationalities in Nigeria.”
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According to him, if all the nationalities in Project Nigeria know that they would one day have the feel of power at the centre; there would not be threat of disunity from the side of who might feel aggrieved over marginalization, adding, “the sense of belonging would, through that, be better reinforced.”
He therefore appealed to the northern brothers to see the issue that way stressing that, “we have to keep advocating for character and attitude of each ethnic group, organization and each political party about things that would make Nigerians to live in peace and harmony.”
While calling for the power to shift to the Yoruba region of the south-west, the concerned activist proposed that 2023 should be used for that experiment where all Nigerians should begin to trust each other, where they would look at what Nigeria looked like 50 years ago of mutual understanding among themselves.
“It should not be a question of debate again that the topmost political office in 2023 should go to the Yoruba of the south-west. I don’t think there should be any debate on that again. It is only fair enough for a nation. And thankfully, the region can boast of eminently qualified hands to succeed Buhari in 2023,” Olokoba declared.
When asked to mention names, the CDG boss tipped the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Jagaban Borgu, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, describing him as “a tested and trusted man.”
Speaking further, he asserted that former Lagos State governor and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (BRF), whose tenure as governor, according to him, “still remains talk of the town,” is also qualified eminently, adding that,” the incumbent Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo also a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), is also eminently qualified to step in, in 2023.”
In conclusion, Olokoba however declared that, “what we have to guide against is the emergence of another Yoruba president that would serve our term but who would not serve our interest,” vowing that, his group would work against such an individual candidate.
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“The idea behind a Yoruba presidency is not solely for the life of Yoruba people to be better than that of other ethnic groups. The agenda of every Yoruba man is not to suppress or oppress any ethnic group. The topmost agenda of an average Yoruba man is equal opportunity and equal access to the wealth of the nation. That is our agenda. We don’t want to be oppressed. We want a common economic system, we want a common railway system and we believe we would run faster if Nigeria is tailored along the pattern I have just said.”
On Lagos governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Olokoba said, he is walking his talk by fulfilling his campaign promises, pointing out that, “today, with the State of Emergency he has declared on roads, and assurance that he would pay more than N30,000 minimum wage to the workers, it is a testimony that he is a man that is bent on keeping his promises.”
“So, looking at some of the steps he has taken so far, not a few people would agree that, if he sustains the tempo, in the next one year, Lagos would have moved higher than the level we are expecting. So, he needs our supports, words of encouragement, useful advice and constructive criticism for him to remain more focussed,” he submitted.