The Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum says any geopolitical zone that will produce the president in 2023 must make friends “across the divide”.
He said that the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones should therefore negotiate with other zones ahead of the next general election if their quest for the presidency must yield fruit.
Zulum spoke Friday at the 17th Chief Gani Fawehinmi annual lecture in Lagos.
The event, organised by the Ikeja Branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), was also attended by human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), immediate-past President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nwodo, legal practitioners and human rights activists, among others.
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“To our friends and brothers in the south-south and south-east particularly, only God gives power but you have to negotiate for power.
“Negotiation becomes easier when you make friends across the divide. If we negotiate for power, we don’t always get everything we want, but we will normally mention every clause that covers everything we need.
“I said this because I have heard many people say ‘they don’t want to give us power’ but assumptions and projections will never actualise your aspirations. We must all remember that God gives power but human beings negotiate for it.
“Every interested party must be prepared to negotiate for it,” Zulum said.
The Borno governor however emphasised that other sections of the country deserved a shot at the presidency.