IF ANOTHER NORTHERNER WINS THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN 2023, THERR WILL BE TROUBLE - OLUWO

Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, has warned against retaining power in the North beyond 2023, saying that doing so would fuel Yoruba Nation agitation.

Oba Akanbi said in a statement signed by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, and obtained in Osogbo on Friday that Yoruba Nation agitators would be vindicated if power remained in the north in 2023.

According to him, the efforts of traditional rulers in the south de-escalated tensions caused by Yoruba Nation agitators, and he appealed to northern traditional rulers, notable politicians, and stakeholders to intervene and ensure that power shifts to southern Nigeria in 2023.

He also urged northern traditional rulers and stakeholders to consider a southern presidency in the interests of fairness, equity, and unity, emphasizing that power should return to the south after the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari's two-term tenure.

In part, the statement read, "I am a leading natural paramount ruler from Southern Nigeria, and I am calming Yoruba Nation agitations. My intervention was to ensure that Nigeria remained united. The agitators then raised a slew of issues for discussion. One of them was the traditional presidential power rotation.

"We hope their input was taken into account. We don't want to see another protest like this. It is manageable with political fairness ahead of the 2023 general election. Politics must not divide the country.

In the interest of fairness, equity, and unity, I am appealing to Northern traditional rulers and stakeholders to consider Southern presidency. President Muhammadu Buhari of Northern origin has nearly completed two eight-year terms. To be fair, power should revert to the South.

"Retaining power in the North will exacerbate unrest. We hope that some of those who joined the previous protest will not join again if power remains in the North."