It Is The Right Of The Igbos To Produce President In 2023 Says Ayo Adebanjo

Chief Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of the Pan Yoruba socio-political organisation Afenifere, has stated that the South-East should produce the president in the 2023 election if Nigeria is to enjoy peace.

Adebanjo, in an interview with Sun Newspaper, said it is unfair to gang up and deny them the presidency.

He said, “It is fairness, justice and equity. We have been doing rotation, it is only South-East that has not produced the president. How can the rest of the country be ganging up against them? We are not saying the truth. It is their right to produce the president, any other argument is selfish and such people are not serious about Nigeria.”

When asked as to why, being a Yoruba man, he is supporting Igbo instead of Yoruba, Adebanjo said he was taught of politics of fairness, Justice and equity. He said he loves Nigeria. He therefore advises president Buhari to produce new constitution before leaving office.

“I was taught politics of fairness, justice and equity. Have the Yoruba not produced the president and the vice president? Have the South-East got it? If you were in the shoes of the Igbo and the presidency is coming to the South and it is going back to the Yoruba, is that fairness and how would you feel? We are just busy deceiving ourselves to find one lame argument or the other. I love Nigeria to be one. Anything short of that; you are pushing the South-East out of Nigeria. If Buhari is sincere, let him step down the constitution and get another one before the election, unless we want to continue to deceive ourselves.”

The Afenifere leader also debunked the news making the rounds that he is not supporting the Yoruba aspirants because he has a grouse with some of them. According to him, such stories are gossips and should not be taken serious.

He said, “Forget about that nonsense talk. Am I an aspirant? Yoruba people are my children. I’m telling you what brought Nigeria together. That is gossip that shouldn’t be taken seriously. I, Ayo Adebanjo, which Yoruba person do I have scores to settle with? Who was born the same time with me? All these talks don’t make meaning to me at all. Which Yoruba man today will say that I’m competing with him? Did I compete with anybody in the First Republic when many of them were not born? If they don’t want to face the truth they should say so. There is no man today, including Buhari that I have to compete with. I’m satisfied with what God has given to me. I am a very contented man and I thank God for His grace. We are talking about justice, so don’t bring any lame excuse about one thing or the other.”