National President of Arewa United Consultative Forum, AUCF, Alhaji Shuaibu Ado Dansudu, has actually advised Nigerians to put focus on proficiency and credibility in making their option of who rules the country next and bother less about where the person hails from.

The Arewa leader kept in mind that the Igbo, much like every other area of the country, is incomparably certified to lead the country.

He revealed appointment about what he called Igbo’s incorrect approach in the race for the 2023 presidency.

In this interview, Dansudu spoke more on the ordeals of separatist leaders, Sunday Ighoho and Nnamdi Kanu whose flexibility he said might not completely lie with the Federal Government. Excerpt:

Leaders of ideas in the North recently dismissed the call for power shift to the South. Do you think this is reasonable?

This is politics where every person and group are entitled to their own viewpoint more so since we are in a democracy. They have their reasons for expressing such view. What matters to me and what I think ought to matter to every Nigerian is not where the next president comes from. Rather we need to be worried about electing a qualified and reputable person as the next president. As far as the person has what it requires to move Nigeria forward; as far as the person can join the nation and assistance construct our economy, where the individual comes from ought to not trouble us. It is not our fault that we discover ourselves in this scenario; it is the fault of the colonial masters who put us in this mess. Due to the fact that they didn’t want us to live as one people, they did it purposefully. Then I need to state that Nigeria does not want a brand-new driver in the saddle. What we need is a knowledgeable person who is versed in the system. We know those who fought for democracy in this country and we need to compensate them. Take a look at the short duration Yar’Adua spent as the president of this country, he did perfectly well because he was not a neophyte in the system. He was a guv and understood governance. We need somebody who is currently in the system– not a student. Then, there is also the need to reciprocate the excellent that has actually been done to you. You should support a person who supports you. I am not saying it is obligatory power ought to pertain to the South, however if the North wants to be reasonable, northerners need to support Tinubu because of his assistance for the North in the past. Besides that all of us know what Tinubu attained in Lagos State even when the state was starved of fund by the Federal Government.

What then do you to say to those calling for Igbo presidency in 2023? This is one ethnic group that is yet to have a shot at power because the return to civil rule, a factor, which is central to their claim of marginalization?

The Igbo have the right to rule Nigeria much like every other ethnic group, however the issue with the Igbo, however, is their approach to seeking power. The activity of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, in the current years is a major cause for issue. When it started in the Southwest, the leaders in the zone actioned in rapidly and successfully nipped it in the bud. I don’t question the ability of Igbo leaders to rein in these individuals, but we are yet to see that taking place. As it stands, we do not truly know why the problem festers. We don’t know whether it is due to the fact that Igbo leaders remain in support of the group or it is because they lack the capability to tame them. The group has actually been accused of all manners of criminalities- killing, assassinating, terrifying their people. Everybody hesitates of what is going to take place if they are given the opportunity to rule the country. No matter how simply the cause you are battling, taking up arms against the country is not the service. South Africa is a fine example of nation whose individuals were handled unjustly however individuals did not catch the temptation of picking up arms. That was why they had the sort of assistance they had before they triumphed. You can not continue killing, purchasing your people to remain at home and causing all sorts of unrests and anticipate individuals to listen to you and sympathise with you. These are a few of the reasons individuals might be having a reservation on the issue of Igbo presidency. I do not sign up for the belief that the Igbo are marginalized. There is no other way one ethnic group out of 3 major ethnic groups need to be permitted to take whatever. When it comes to wielding and seeking power, the North is strong in politics and that provides us the edge. When you look at federal government’s parastatals, ministries, the Southwest has a hold there. The economy is managed by the Igbo. Beyond this, the South has actually delighted in democratic rule more than the North. Obasanjo ruled for 8 years, Jonathan spent 6 years. Yar’Adua just spent 2 years; it is only Buhari that has the chance of ruling for 8 years. As far as I am worried, there are simply two departments in the nation: the North and the South. The South is always quick to tag the person as a northerner forgetting that there are three geo-political zones in the North Whenever anyone emerges as president in the North. However if it is from the South, that is when you will hear that the person is from Southwest or South-south or Southeast. The Southerners must begin to see themselves as one. The Igbo has actually not demonstrated enough commitment to rule this nation. These are people whose bulk believe they are Biafrans, and not Nigerians. What exactly do the Igbo want? Igbo need to drop their agitation first and see themselves as Nigerians. That will act as the first sign that they are prepared to rule Nigeria.

How best do you believe the continued detention of Sunday Igboho and Nnamdi Kanu, 2 separatist agitators, can be solved with the Federal Government?

The struggle of Sunday Igboho need to not be compared to that of Nnamdi Kanu. I don’t have enough proof to negate the claim by security representatives that they found some arms in Igboho’s house, but what I know is that Sunday Igboho’s advocates did not go wild on the streets to unleash violence and disrupt the peace of their people the method IPOB is carrying out in the Southeast. The only problem I have with Igboho is that he individualized the battle against the Fulani. He must have partnered with security representatives. That is why Igboho failed. Look at the reaction of Yoruba leaders, how they handled and managed the crisis and compare it to the circumstance in the Southeast. I don’t believe the option lies completely with the Federal Government. Individuals will need to start the peace relocation. If today, IPOB chooses to lay down their arms and permit peace to rule, the government will be willing to release Kanu due to the fact that his supporters will have the ability to encourage the government that the stress created in the zone will blow over. However if the government today, accedes to the call to launch Kanu without IPOB encouraging us that they are ready to drop their arms, do you think that will stop the tension because zone? No! It will not. On the other hand, Igboho can be released, however then you have to bear in mind that he is not in the federal government’s custody. You can see why I said the solution to their experiences is not entirely with the federal government.

President Buhari has actually declined to openly align with the political ambition of any of those yearning to prosper him. What do you make from the president’s neutrality?

If he has a favourite amongst the competitors, that is what an excellent daddy should do even. He needs to not make it known to the rest of them. , if he does that the rest will gang up against the greasy contender.. It is not yet time to show his support for anyone of them. Apart from creating issues for the greasy aspirant, the president himself will face a great deal of issues ought to he make open show of his support for his preferred amongst them. We all know the story of Jacob and Joseph. Jacob’s open display screen of affection for Joseph ahead of his other siblings put him into troubles. So, President Buhari should avoid Jacob’s pitfall now to protect his Joseph. He may reveal it later; not now.

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Source: Sun News

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