WHY ALL NIGERIANS SHOULD DISDAIN THE NORTH-EAST (NORTH-NORTH) POWER SHIFT AND GRANT JUSTICE TO SOUTH-EAST IN 2023. Written by KEMKA S. IBEJI

As we await the decision of political parties and Nigerians at large on the choice of President Muhammadu Buhari's successor in 2023, we expect certain realities as these to guide everyone to the right action. It is also of our highest anticipation that as President Buhari is known for uprightness and firmness on the right ways of living, he should guard against every admonition or views that will tempt him towards North-North transition. Also, doing the right thing involves doing the right thing in the right way as well. What therefore are the right thing and the right way? 

1960 - 1963 Sir. Tafawa Balewa was Prime Minister and the Head of Government of Nigeria 

1960 - 1963 Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was the Representative of the Queen of England

1963 - 1966 Sir Tafawa Balewa was the Prime Minister and Head of Government of Nigeria 

1963 - 1966 Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became Governor General.

So from 1960 - 1963, the North-East was leading the country.

Between 1963 - 1966, the North-East shared power with the South-East where South-East was only a ceremonial partner of power sharing. Invariably and in the right sense of it, the North-East had power from 1960 to 1966. 

Between January - July, 1966 Maj. Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi was head of government. This gave the South-East only 6 months of leading Nigeria since Nigeria's independence in 1960 till 2023 which is approximately 63 years.

By prorating, it is supposed to be at least 10 years for each of the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. 

However, statistics in percentage shows that North-East and South-South have had 9% (6 years) each while only South-East trails a huge distance with slightly less than 1%.

It is very obvious that though the North-East has had the least of the share of our political leadership in the North, the South-East has had the least, not only in the South but nationally.

Again, it is trite and common experience to all that power shifts between the North and South. It will divide the country the more and set a very horrible pace and precedence to imagine the North succeeding North. It will be very unheard of for President Muhammadu Buhari to hand over power to another Northerner, irrespective of which part of the North and whatever reason. 

The South-East remains the most starved and are supposed to be helped up with power share. The South-East trails tail, not only in the South but, nationally (across all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria). By power shift conventional practice as adopted in our country since the return of democracy in 1999 especially and even before then, it is the turn of the South to produce the next President of Nigeria in 2023. And to ensure that all parts of the country is adequately carried along, fairly treated and equitably involved in citizenship, the entire Nigeria must make sure that, not only that justice is done, justice must be seen to have been efficiently done. Justice, equity and fairness can only be seen as intricate and intrinsic participants in our national leadership organisation if and only if power returns to South and exclusively to South-East in 2023.

This reasoning goes round all the political parties in Nigeria and should hold sway for every just Nigerian. Commonsensically, power should and will come to South in 2023. Logically as well, if power is to come to the South in 2023, it follows that it should come to the South-East and no other zone in the South.

It is both wrong, unacceptable, unreasonable and unjust for either power to be retained in the North after the full 8 year run of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 or come to any other part of the South except the South-East in 2023.

In other words, it is not right for power to go to the North-East (North succeeding North) in 2023. As well, it is absolutely wrong for power to go to either South-West or South-South in 2023. Such power shifts as highlighted as inordinate above are offensive, reprehensible and represent utter abandonment to good conscience, fair play, orderliness, justice, equity and common good existence of all geographical zones in Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari is faced with heightened moral responsibility which is far and beyond what former President Goodluck Jonathan did in 2015. The action and choice of President Muhammadu Buhari respecting his successor in 2023 will be his greatest gift to Nigeria and Nigerians. Who President Buhari supports to win and take over from him in 2023 as well will determine what national posterity will put down for him. This also goes to all Nigerians. Whatever choice you make as a Nigerian towards the 2023 general elections and especially as regards who becomes the next President of Nigeria and from which geopolitical zone, will count for your conscience and moral strength as a Nigerian citizen. 

While it has been set succinctly and clear before each and every Nigerian today and especially President Muhammadu Buhari that the right, holy and righteous thing to do which is the best option left for all Nigerians is to ensure that a Southeasterner succeeds President Buhari in 2023. This is the wisest thing to do and every intelligent and upright Nigerian who believes that President Muhammadu Buhari is a wise man is not expecting any other decision from President Muhammadu Buhari himself. Most people don't doubt that Mr. President rather than any other views, is knowledgeable about Nigerian history and is morally strong enough to turn down every wrong advice to either handover to either anyone from any part of the North or anybody from any other part of the South apart from the South-East.

And for credibility, trustworthiness, faithfulness, diligence, perseverance, humility, reliability, sustenance of values, loyalty and dedication as a quality in one person and for the peace and unity of Nigeria, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu remains the most recommendable, respectable and best character to takeover and succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023. 

While everyone in Nigerian political class is looking up to the decision of Mr. President on this, they hope to celebrate him (President Buhari) as the greatest Nigerian leader in history by doing justice to all. The die is cast and the ball is in the court of Nigerians; let our good conscience and moral uprightness guide us as we trudge into 2023 and beyond. 

God bless Nigeria!!

God bless Nigerians!!!