The Southeast region cannot produce the country’s president in 2023 by intimidating other parts of the country, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i says.
He said the people of the region must get on the road and convince other parts of the country that they mean well for them.
El-Rufa’i said this during a webinar organised by the Africa Leadership Group titled: ‘Developing a Viable Nation 2’ hosted by Pastor of Trinity House Church, Ituah Ighodalo.
“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,” he said.
“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.
“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.”
