Hon. Jonathan Vatsa, the APC chieftain in Niger state and former commissioner for information, culture, and tourism, has issued a warning to a northern socio-political group that is pushing for the abolition of Nigeria’s rotating presidency system. Their suggestion was rebuffed by Vatsa as “daydreaming,” highlighting the necessity of maintaining the rotational model that has been in place since 1999 until each area has had a fair share of leadership. He emphasized that after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the Southwest completes his two terms in office, the presidency will go to the Southeast.
Addressing selected journalists in Minna, Vatsa reiterated the significance of honoring the current rotational structure. He criticized the northern youth group’s call for an end to the system, particularly in the wake of power transitioning from the north. Vatsa warned against altering the rules midway through the political game, stressing that such actions could lead to chaos. He emphasized the principle that no region possesses a monopoly on power and that discussions on altering the political landscape should occur after Tinubu’s tenure and an Igbo presidency.
Arewa New Agenda (ANA), a group based in Northern Nigeria, recently expressed its opposition to the rotational presidency during a gathering in Yola, Adamawa state. ANA’s President, Senator Ahmad Abubakar MoAllahyidi, criticized Tinubu’s purported remarks about it being his turn for the presidency in the 2023 elections. Vatsa, however, countered ANA’s assertions, underscoring Tinubu’s expected tenure and the subsequent need for Igbo representation in the presidency before any revision to the political framework could be considered, reiterating the necessity for fairness and adherence to established protocols.
According to Vatsa who was the former coordinator public affairs to former governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger state, in a news by The Sun, he maintained that “with this their call, President Bola Tinubu must do his term terms of eight years, and the Igbo man must test presidency before we can tempered with that political arrangements.
