Nnia Nwodo, the President-General of Igbo apex socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has reacted to statement attributed to Mallam Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s cousin, and a person considered to be the head of the presidential ‘cabal.’
Mamman Daura in an interview with the BBC Hausa Service was quoted to have said that the election of the president in 2023 should not be based on zoning but on competence.
According to him, the zoning formula which had been adopted since 1999 in the election of the country’s leader, has failed.
However, in a reaction to the report, the Ohanaeze President-General through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Emeka Attamah, condemned Daura’s comments, noting that it was unfair of him to seek an end to “rotation” after Buhari and the northern region had enjoyed two terms in quick succession.
Nwodo reminded Daura that the law of equity demands that what is good for the goose is good for the gander.
The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere also condemned the position of Mamman Daura on the 2023 presidency.
Afenifere said the country must continue with the common understanding of power rotation between the North and the South.
The spokesman of the group, Joe Odumakin said the South was not unmindful of the fact that the North would want to have a shot again in the presidency after Buhari.
He said: “They (Northern candidates) would come out definitely but it is now left for the country to say whether they want to accept the move or they should insist on the common understanding that power should rotate between north and south.
“I heard him (Mamman Daura) talking about competence or whatever. In 2023, he would understand if there is anything called competence. We are watching how things unfold.”
Meanwhile, many on social media stated that his statement came at the wrong time. They added that his statement indicates that other regions (aside from the North) would be denied their claims to the presidency in 2023.
@OdogwuOgbete wrote: “Let me decode this for some of you that may miss the message. Oga Mamman Daura is saying that come 2023, zoning will no longer apply and a Northern candidate will be chosen for being the most competent. Bookmark this.”
@obi_Nwosu: “Mamman Daura said Nigerians should vote for competence instead of zoning. This latest narrative is happening now that the rotation has reached Southeast. I believe there are competent folks from the southeast also?”
Somto Onuchukwu@chosensomto: “If Mamman Daura says “No zoning in 2023”, then it is final; APC will do competence over Tinubu in 2023.”
Another Twitter user wrote: “2023: President Buhari’s henchman, Mamman Daura, rules out zoning in APC”
