By Godwin Onuh Odeh Scholars have long debated North-South relations in Nigerian history. From the NYSC scheme to the Federal Ch...
Scholars have long debated North-South relations in Nigerian history. From the NYSC scheme to the Federal Character principle and the WAZOBIA ideal, all were deliberate instruments of national harmony.
Yet, one of the finest models for managing North-South political relations remains the "Rotational Presidency" — a principle which almost all political parties with genuine national interest at heart have acknowledged and respected.
Most recently, Late Muhammadu Buhari, a president of northern extraction, completed his two terms in office. Consequently and logically, it became the turn of the South. In the build-up to 2023, various political parties fielded candidates of their choices, but the ruling APC won the election that produced the incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This piece boldly asserts that the APC of Tinubu and the Labour Party of Mr Peter Obi, and other parties which presented southern candidates, acted well for the national interest of unity and harmony embedded in rotational presidency.
It appears illogical, however, for the NNPP of Rabiu Kwankwaso and the PDP of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to have presented northern candidates when it was clearly the turn of the South at the time.
In the upcoming 2027 election, political parties are at liberty to present southern candidates, while the role of northern members should be to support their party candidates. Arising from this background, the ADC and any other party fielding a northern candidate appear to have fundamentally missed their steps.
This treatise is not driven by party or personal political interest, but by the interest of rotational presidency, which remains crucial to nation-building discourse. It concludes that political parties with northern presidential candidates should step aside in the 2027 electoral contest. The contest should be between southern candidates, not a North versus South contest.
It is a sheer display of political desperation by those northern candidates contesting in 2027. They should prepare ahead for a post-2027 presidency. Nobody should deceive the populace or electorate with the promise of a one-term presidency of four years. Nigeria is used to two terms of eight years. This is not to say the APC is entitled to eight years but that the South is entitled to eight years. However, the APC has not done too badly, as the current administration has taken bold steps addressing critical challenges across sectors that have bedevilled the nation for decades.
Kwankwaso has done well this time around by shelving his ambition and building an alliance with Mr. Peter Obi, while the APC has remained steadfast in keeping to the ideal of rotational presidency.
Wishing the nation the best in the upcoming 2027 electoral contest.
Godwin Onuh Odeh, Associate Professor of Social and Political History, Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Sokoto State University, Sokoto.
No comments