ADC, Reps ex- member, others task N’ Assembly on rotational presidency

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WORRIED by incessant face- offs between the North and South over power shift, some concerned Nigerians have called on the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to accommodate rotational presidency.

In separate interactions with The Guardian, yesterday, national chairman of African Democratic Congress ( ADC), Chief Ralphs Nwosu; former member, House of Representatives from Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Mr. Lanre Odubote; and the president, Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, Akin Malaolu, said urgent steps must be taken to ensure ethnic nationalities have the presidency on rotational basis.

They warned that the issue is capable of threatening the nation’s democracy and pitching the country against itself.

Nwosu said the National Assembly should deliberate on how to amend the constitution to include rotational presidency in a manner that will benefit all the ethnic nationalities.

He said Nigeria could not continue to operate on the basis of ethnic suspicion and fear anytime a presidential election approaches.

“Our lawmakers should make serious efforts to address this. The truth is that rotational presidency will give everybody a sense of belonging.”

Odubote said: “It is the character of the North not to want to share or relinquish power to resolve this issue permanently. The legislative arm of government might need to take a critical look into it.”

Malaolu, on his part, said the North could not have behaved otherwise, having realised that it has the voting strength to bulldoze its way to the presidency.

He urged Southern leaders, especially those in the Southwest “to start sensitising their people to take voting seriously. They should also provide good governance to gain the trust of the electorate.”

This came as the director general of the Progressive Governors’ Forum ( PGF), Dr Lukman Salihu, called for a review of the All Progressives Congress’ ( APC) manifesto to resolve the issue of power rotation between the South and the North.