2023: I’m not in support of zoning of presidential ticket – Fayemi

Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has declared that he doesn’t support the zoning of Nigeria’s presidency, saying there is no reason why candidates from all parts of Nigeria will not partake in the primaries when the stage is set in 2023.

Fayemi’s comment comes on the heels of various calls to have a President of Southeastern extraction.

Many from the region have over the years felt marginalized and believe that 2023 is the year for a balance to be achieved in the Nigerian political sphere.

Reacting to this, Fayemi who was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics monitored by Newsflash247 said he understands why those who feel marginalized are clamoring for a Southeast Presidency come 2023.

The governor said he also understands that “in a country that is multicultural, multireligious and multiethnic, one of the equilibrating mechanisms is to ensure that those in leadership represent the mosaic that the country is”.

He, however, stressed that he strongly is of the view that excellent Nigerians come from all parts of Nigeria, adding that there is no place where qualified and purpose-driven leaders cannot be found.

Fayemi who was in charge of the APC primaries in 2014, said there is no reason why candidates from all parts of Nigeria will not partake in the primaries when the stage is set in 2023.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum also urged the service chiefs in the country to recommend their successors to the President Muhammadu Buhari.

The recent horrific killing of at least 43 rice farmers at Zabarmari in the Jere Local Government Area of Borno State had sparked fresh call for the sacking of the country’s service chiefs by the President.

However, Fayemi said it is not about the sacking of the service chiefs but it is about “transitioning them out of their current responsibilities into retirement”.

He said, “The service chiefs have served the country well, they’ve given their best and they’ve been committed.

“I know them personally and I know how well they are committed to ensuring that we get rid of this insurgency but the point I am making is that if you have done something, the same thing for five years, and you have even gone beyond your retirement age, of course, once you are a service chief, you may argue that there is no retirement age but the military has protocols, the military has processes and from time to time, one of the real consideration is renewal of the leadership.

“My approach is for Mr President to ask them in their role as service chiefs who understand the military very well, who know their men very well, to even be the ones to suggest some of the best men that may step into their shoes.

“It’s not about sacking them; it’s about transitioning them out of their current responsibilities into retirement. A part of me even feels that there may be some of them that would rather exit now but they wouldn’t want to be seen as jumping ship if they have not been directed by Mr President but I am not the president of Nigeria and the president has within his rights to determine how he wants to direct this.

“Our own as governors and field commanders in the 36 states is to let him know the feelings of our people about security in the country and that we will do when we have the meeting.”

Fayemi said the 36 state governors would meet with President very soon and convey the feelings of the people on the insecurity in the country to him.

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