Northern governors counter southern counterpart on power shift

Governors of the 19 states in the north have opposed the call by their southern counterparts that the presidency should be zoned to the south in 2023.

This formed part of the resolutions reached when the governors held an emergency meeting with traditional rulers in the region at the Kaduna state government house.

Chairman of the forum and governor of plateau state, Simon Lalong, said zoning the office of the president as being agitated by southern governors is against the provisions of the 1999 constitution, as amended.

In his reaction, chairman of the southern governors’ forum and governor of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu said the northern governors should not be grudged for kicking against power shifting to the south in 2023.

Akeredolu, in a statement by his commissioner for information, Donald Ojogo, said the northern governors have only exercised their right under freedom of expression.

Southern groups including the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, and Afenifere said the northern governors’ position was against the unity of the country.