A former presidential aspirant, Ahmed Buhari has endorsed a former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, who recently declared his interest to contest for presidency in the 2023 general election.
Ahmed Buhari Endorses Pius Anyim For 2023 Presidency
The former presidential candidate, who disclosed this speaking on Arise Television, Monday morning, February 14, made a case for the South-East to produce Nigeria’s next president.
Buhari also debunked claims that the South-East may not produce capable hands who will occupy the office of the Nigerian president come 2023.
According to him, it’s just fair that the next president is zoned to the South-East because every section of the country has individuals who can pilot the affairs of the country credibly if given the opportunity.
He stated that in 2015, the North cried loudly that power should shift to the North after Goodluck Jonathan, noting that it’s the same argument in 2015 that produced President Mohammed Buhari, a Northerner that filled the slot of the North after Jonathan from the South-South.
Buhari wondered why the same people who clamour for power shift then to the North are now opposing the same power shift to the South.
He however emphasized that for the sake of equity and fairness, the presidential slot should further be micro zoned to South East once ceded to the South.
“Because South East is the only zone in the entire South that has not produced the president of Nigeria since the advent of Democracy in 1999,” he said.
The former presidential candidates said there are arrays of eminently qualified persons from the South East who have indicated interest in the job.
Mentioning Orji Kalu, Rochas Okorocha, and Anyim Pius Anyim, Buhari said that the credentials of all of them should be placed on the table for examination.
“But among all of them that have indicated interest in the presidency from the southeast, if given the opportunity to choose, Anyim stands out,” Buhari said.
According to him, Anyim performance in the Senate as its president when the National Assembly was in turmoil, his stabilizing roles at that point, marked him out as one who could be entrusted with leadership and he will be sure to deliver.
Stating further, Buhari recalled that Anyim’s role in the office of secretary to the government of the federation where he was the head of all ministries and agencies and how he managed a rancour free civil servants without being a career civil servant he said, is another thing anyone should not over look in choosing a candidate for next presidential election.
Buhari also noted that Anyim’s disposition on restructuring gives him out as a leader who is ready to listen and carry everyone along.
He, therefore, maintained that Anyim’s roles so far at the national level distinguish him out as one with the best exposure and experience to provide the desired leadership to Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed has insisted that the north will still produce the next president after Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.