A Northern group, Arewa Mandate Initiative (AMI), says it would support a Southern candidate including Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Rotimi Amaechi or Orji Uzor Kalu as President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor in 2023.
The political pressure group stated this in a statement signed by its FCT Coordinator, Malam Muhammad Mubarak and Sokoto Secretary, Alhaji Aminu Muhammed.
AMI said that it decided to support the individuals in line with a gentleman agreement reached by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that power should shift to the South after President Buhari’s tenure.
The group further said it arrived at the decision to support a Southern candidate as a result of engagements with APC youth groups across the North.
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“Though certain individuals in the south have been identified as likely choices for the presidency, the Mandate group has decided to keep things under wraps, for now, to allow for wider consultations.
“As part of its assignments, the AMI, has initiated talks/discussions with high ranking members of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, and the Middle Belt Forum, MBF, with a view to having a consensus on a presidential material acceptable to the North, as the general elections draw near.
“Among the names that the Arewa Mandate Initiative and the support groups are considering from the south-south, include, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, SAN, the Minister of State, Petroleum, Dr Timipriye Sylvia, Minister of Transport, Chief Rotimi Amechi, and the Minister of Niger Delta, NDDC, Chief Godswill Akpabio, and from the South-West, includes names like Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Minister of works Raji Fashola, Governor of Ekiti, John Kayode Fayemi, and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.
“Similarly, the AMI is also looking at names like the Minister of Science and Tech, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, former Governor of Abia, Dr Orji Uzoh Kalu, Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, and the former Senate President, Chief Ken Nnamani, from the South-East,“ the group stated.