Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai, has advised the South-East geopolitical zone that it can not threaten it’s way to the Presidency in 2023 with secession.
According to el-Rufai, politics has to do with negotiations and convincing others why they should vote for you, adding that the Igbo would need to adopt this approach if they want their son to succeed the current President.
el-Rufai stated this during a webinar organised by the Africa Leadership Group.
He said in response to a question: “I don’t think anyone has stopped the South-East from going for the Presidency. But you see, you cannot get the Presidency of Nigeria by threats or by shouting victimhood. This is a political process and you have to engage other parts of Nigeria to convince them to support you.
“That is what everyone does. That is what Jonathan did in 2011; that is what Buhari did in 2015 and 2019. That is what every President does. You don’t stay in your corner, abuse everyone in Nigeria and say give me Presidency. It is not going to happen.”
The Kaduna State Governor also noted that no region in Nigeria can attain the Presidency without the support of others, while also advising those who want to be President to get on the road and convince people that they mean well for them.
el-Rufai however however warned that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is weak in the South-East which may not favour the region.
“The Presidency is not by allocation. It is the result of a political process. You join a political party, your party negotiates with other parts of the country and it happens. That is how it is done. And you cannot get it by sitting down or threatening secession. It won’t work.
“I think the South-East is going about it the wrong way because if you look at the APC for instance, we do not have many footprints in the South-East.”
