By John Ogunsemore
A former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has said he supported Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s 2023 presidential bid because he clinched the presidential ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He stated this in a Facebook post on Monday while berating those advocating a return of power to the North in 2027.
He said their justification that the North has only been in power for eleven years since 1999 is a dangerous argument being made by desperate people.
“Yes, I supported a Northerner in the previous elections because he won my party’s presidential primary.
“My hands were tied. But even with tied hands, we made him state publicly that he would do only one term and hand over to his Southern deputy,” Omokri said.
Last week, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume said Nigeria’s unity could be undermined if the North insisted on a return to power in 2027.
Responding, Media Adviser to Atiku, Paul Ibe said it would be unfair to the North if the South retained power in 2027.
“Where, then, does true equity and fairness reside? By the year 2027, the South will have enjoyed 17 years of leadership — eight years under Obasanjo, five years under Jonathan, and four years under Tinubu — while the North will have experienced only 11 years, with Yar’Adua serving three and Buhari eight. This results in a disparity of six years between the North and South, casting a shadow over the balance of power,” Ibe wrote on X.
However, Omokri disagreed with the argument being put forward by advocates of return of power to the North in 2027.
He said, “Nigeria’s independence did not start in 1999. Prior to 1999, Nigeria experienced twenty good years of Northern leadership, with only 83 days in between those twenty years given to the South when Chief Ernest Shonekan headed the ill fated Interim National Government.
“In the nineteen years before that, the North enjoyed another fifteen years in power, with only four years to the South comprised of six months for Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi and three and a half years for General Olusegun Obasanjo.
“In the sixty four years of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation, the North has been in power for a total of forty six years, versus only eighteen for the South.
“If you further break it down to elected civilian governments and military dictatorships, the North has had twenty one years of democratically elected leaders, including six years for Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa, four years for President Shehu Shagari, three for President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, and eight for General Buhari.
“This is compared to fourteen for the South, with eight years for President Obasanjo, five for President Goodluck Jonathan, and less than two for the incumbent.
“The North has also had twenty-five years of military dictatorship, comprising nine years for General Gowon, six months for General Murtala Muhammed, two years for General Buhari, eight years for General Babangida, five years for the butcher, Abacha, and nine months for the blessed General Abdulsalami Abubakar. This is versus only three and a half for the South, and three out of those three and a half years were not even deliberate. If Murtala had not been murdered by his fellow Northerner, all that the South would have had would have been only six months!”
Omokri added, “In mathematical ratio, for every year the South has been in power, the North has been at the helm for 2.56 years. And now, Oliver asks for more?”
He said if equity is the yardstick, the South is at an advantage.
“For the stability of our nation, it is essential that power rotates between the North and South,” Omokri said.
He noted that Northern Nigeria must not allow itself to be goaded into actions that could have serious ramifications for its political stability.