By Ubong Sampson
The Director, Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed has said that presidential power will remain with the north come 2023, adding that the other regions in the country should either accept it as reality or leave the country.
Ahmed who was delivering a keynote address last weekend at the maiden Maitama Sule Leadership Lecture Series organised by the students wing of the Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, also said nothing will happen if a Northerner takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
He also boasted about the dominating population of the north, saying it has the numbers to retain the presidency and urged northerners not to allow themselves to be treated as second class citizens.
“The North will not accept to serve as a second fiddle in 2023, when we have the population to clinch the number one position.
“The North is not for sale and Northerners will surprise those waiting for them to queue up in 2023 and be given money in exchange for their votes.
“We will lead Nigeria the way we have led Nigeria before, whether we are President or Vice President, we will lead Nigeria. We have the majority of the votes and the democracy says vote whom you want.
“Why should we accept second class position when we know we can buy a form and contest for first class and we will win?
“Why does anybody need to threaten us and intimidate us. We will get that power, but be humble because power comes from God. Being honest is not being stupid.
“There are Nigerians who believe that because the economy of the North is crumbling, we are running away from insecurity, we are politically vulnerable, they think they can buy us for 2023 but they are making a mistake.
“We are ready for this; we will consider every economic adversity, challenge, we will fix the Northern economy and we are the only one who can fix this Northern economy. For that reason, we are not for sale. We are in the process of rebuilding the North and we will rebuild the North from 2023,” Ahmed said.
He added that whether the North holds power in 2023 or not, those with the intention of who wants to breaking out of the country will still continue to agitate for it, as their mind are already made and they are merely looking for excuses.
