Controversy has continued to trail the alleged witch-hunt of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo by the Afenifere ahead of 2023 presidency by the pro-north group in the presidency, which has triggered the prominent leaders of the South-West, the South-south and the South-east to join the bandwagon in making their voices loud.
The leader of the Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark from South-south; and a former governor of Anambra State, Chukwuemeka Ezeife for Ohanaze spoke just as other groups from the south kicked against the motive that ignited the cabals action.
President Muhammadu Buhari during week replaced the Economic Management Team headed by Osinbajo with the Economic Advisory Council (EAC).
Accordingly, the seven-man EAC chaired by Prof Doyin Salami will report directly to Mr. President. There are also reports that Osinbajo has been directed to henceforth seek clarifications before taking major decision especially awarding of contracts on the agencies he supervises.
The decisions have been interpreted by many as move deliberately calculated to reduce the powers of the VP ahead of the 2023 presidential election.
Considering the stance of Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State who recently said there was a need for the country to drop zoning in future elections, including the 2023 presidency to enable the country to have a competent leader.
Adebanjo posited that the North should not be trusted with power, while Clark and the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) opined that in the spirit of oneness, the power has to return to the South when President Buhari’s tenure expired.
In a similar manner, Mr. Eric Omare, the President of the IYC, said leveraging by our unwritten power rotational agreement between the North and the South, it would be despicable for northern cabals to project one of their own for the 2023 presidential election.
Meanwhile, Ezeife disclosed the South-East would rally round other regions to solicit support its bid to clinch power in 2023. However, said if all its efforts failed, the region would know that Igbo were no longer wanted in Nigeria.
