Governor Bello Responds Ohanaeze on Rotational Presidency

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has said the rotational presidency is unconstitutional, and competence should be placed over the tribe, as no one wants to know where a good President hails.

Bello reacted to attacks by the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to comment that “rotational presidency was unconstitutional”.

Bello noted that people from diverse regions constitute his government because he prioritises competence over and above tribal sentiments and mediocrity.

Ohanaeze had blasted Bello, saying he was too young to appreciate the principal as he was still a student when politicians agreed.

Bello reacted to Ohanaeze’s comments through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, who said it doesn’t matter where he was studying at the time and that “we can’t sacrifice competence and capacity for mediocrity”.

According to him: “We have practised rotation, but what have we to show for it as a nation? Who remembers where a good President comes from?
“The South-East can bring forward their best to contest the election. What the nation needs now is the best for the job.

“Our constitution doesn’t respect the rotational presidency. It was the convenience of the political class.

“The governor didn’t dispute such unwritten agreement. But he is faulting it. We need a young, vibrant and pragmatic President come 2023.

“We need a man who will be at home with everyone from everywhere.
“The agreement made while he was in school over 20 years ago must not necessarily be in force forever, especially when it has not taken our nation to where we want to be as the true giant of Africa.

“We need a new one for a generation that wants to see Nigeria prosper.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is working with an Anambra man as Director-General, Research and Development; a Borno man as his Special Adviser on Public Relations and a Lagos man as his Special Adviser on Legal Matters.

“Nigeria will never be great as long as we think our greatness is in the shell of ethnic competition. Let the best emerge in 2023.”