No peace in Nigeria with Buhari in office – Ayo Adebanjo …Calls for Igbo presidency

Leader of Yoruba socio-cultural and political group, Afenifere, Pa Ayo Adebanjo, says peace will continue to elude Nigeria for as long as President Muhammadu Buhari remains in office.

The 94-year-old elder statesman spoke extemporaneously on Monday in Abuja, at the Greater Nigerian Conference (GNC), an event organised by Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo think-tank group, to showcase presidential aspirants from the South East as well as make a case for Nigerian president of Igbo decent, in 2023.

He admonished all those jostling to rule the country, across party divides, outside of the South East zone, to drop their ambition, as, according to him, it was the turn of the Igbo of the South East to produce the candidates.

“Maybe, God has saved me thus far to tell Nigerians where we should be and stop deceiving ourselves…

“The North doesn’t want to live power…

“We are at the crossroads now. I’m too old now to be bending the facts. I will say it the way it is. The North doesn’t want to leave power, that’s why they continue to divide the country.

“The problem in the country today is Buhari and if he doesn’t go away there will be no peace,” Pa Adebanjo told the capacity-filled hall of the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

READ: Afenifere gives up on Buhari, hints at boycott of 2023 elections

Apparently to buttress his position, he recalled a conversation he had with former Lagos State governor and presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, when he (Tinubu) came to seek his (Adebanjo’s) approval.

The Afenifere leader said he told Tinubu to his face that President Buhari was deceiving him if he (the president) promised him (Tinubu) the presidency.

Pa Adebanjo said he reminded Tinubu that it was the same Buhari who he said promised him the presidency that has asked the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo to run and also encouraged Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State to run for the same office.

He accused the president and the Fulani North of dividing the South, saying they have succeeded with the South West and doing the same in the South East and South-South.

Going a little into history, the foremost living Yoruba leader sneered at the often-touted position of the political North that the presidency of Nigeria is about merit and competence.

According to him, “If it was on merit, from (Tafawa) Balewa down (to the present), none of them from the North would have been president.

“If it’s on merit, the (South) East alone will produce the president.”

He also expressed his disappointment at former President Goodluck Jonathan for nursing the idea of coming back as a president, saying, “Jonathan allowed himself to be disgraced for saying he is considering to contest for the presidency.”

READ: North undisturbed Nigeria collapsing under its leadership – Ohanaeze

The event had in attendance most of the presidential aspirants from the South East, across the different parties, including former Senate President, Pius Anyim; former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi; Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State, former governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Labour Minister Chris Ngige, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa among others.

In her welcome speech, President of Nzuko Umunna, former Senator Chris Anyanwu, said the essence of the conference was to make Nigeria greater.

She said: “Nzuko Umunna, an Igbo Think Tank made up of professionals from all walks of life at home and in the diaspora, conceived the idea of this conference and it immediately received the buy-in of virtually all major groups in or linked to the South-East (Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, the various State Governments, Ala-Igbo Development Foundation, World Igbo Congress, Ndi Igbo Lagos, Otu Oka Iwu, Association of South-East Town Unions (ASETU), Nkata Ndi Inyom, Congress of Igbo Deputies, and so many others) because the idea resonates with their deepest yearning – we want a progressive Nigeria where we all are seen and treated as equal partners, equal stakeholders, in the enterprise.

“One can confidently state that what the South-East (nay, Ndi-Igbo, actually the whole East) wants is basically equity and inclusiveness in our socio-politics. Several champions from various parts of Nigeria have already taken up this campaign. We salute your courage and forthrightness!”