…Urge parties to zone presidency to South East
As the 2023 general elections draws near, a coalition of northern civil society organisations, Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organizations of Nigerian (ACCSON) has thrown its weight behind Igbo Presidency come 2023, specifically endorsing former Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim.
The spokesperson of the group, Comrade Abdulsalam Mohammed Kazeem, who announced this at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, said the group endorsed the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) after careful consideration
Urging Nigerians to accept Anyim’s candidature and work for his victory during the 2023 election, ACCSON described him as the man that will consolidate Nigeria’s unity.
It would be recalled that on March 23, 2021, over 30 civil society organizations (CSOs) of northern extraction, met at Mallam Aminu Kano Center for Democratic Research, Mambayya House, Kano State on the way forward and the unity of the country.
Comrade Kazeem who read the text of Monday’s briefing said that at the Kano meeting, the CSOs x-rayed burning issues like unity in diversity, rotational presidency, insecurity, youth unemployment, youth inclusiveness in governance among others.
“The leadership of various organizations at that sitting supported a One Nigerian project. We realize that only two regions out of the six geo-political regions have not occupied either President or vice-President seat since 1999 till date. This is unfair and against any democratic standard worldwide.
“For instance, between 1999 and 2007, it was South West and North East and between 2007 and 2015, it was between North West, South South and North West while between 2015 till date it is between North West and South West!
“The South East … are part and parcel of the Nigerian project from day one till date, and, they should be treated fairly just like other zones of the country. They too deserve to get what others have gotten, because they have paid their dues in terms of contributions to and consolidation of Nigeria.
“The region is being captured in all other sectors of the Nigerian economy based on federal character from 1999 till date, but is denied either of the two positions mentioned earlier.
“Going by the above facts, it’s now clear to us as progressives, that the political elites are against the unity of Nigeria. We the youths are the future and hope of the nation as well as critical stakeholders in nation-building. In consideration of our population, we will henceforth cease to be spectators.
“Rather we have decided to be part of the process from mobilizing/sensitizing youths from our region to get their voters cards to the point of telling them who to vote for during elections. We will defend the unity of Nigeria, which is non-negotiable. For now, this is only achievable by a rotation of the presidency. You can also call this periodic ‘power shifts’.”
Speaking further, the coalition said with the rotation of the presidency they believe strongly that “all the present agitations for separation will stop not only in the south East but in other regions since the essence is to quench marginalization and promote unity, brotherhood and pan Nigerian sentiments.
“Consequently, we hereby urge all political parties to zone their presidential ticket to the South East for justice, equity and fairness.
“Further to the above, we hereby present Distinguished Senator Ayim Pius Ayim, a bridge-builder to the entire youths of Northern extraction, as our candidate for 2023 presidency.”
The civil society organizations include, Arewa Youth Assembly for sustainable growth, Arewa Youth and Students Forum, Concerned Northern Forum, North East Peace Movement, Arewa Youth Council of Nigeria, Northern Youth Assembly for Tranquility, Northern Women Initiative Forum, North East Development Council, North Central Grassroots.
Others are Foundation, Arewa Female Youth Ambassadors Peace Initiative, Initiative of Youth Advocate on Humanitarian Affairs, Arewa Youth Movement of Nigeria, Tiv Youth Initiative for Peace, Unity and Development, Middle-belt Vanguard and Northern Youth Network For Good Governance.
