Ayo Adebanjo, the leader of Afenifere faction, a socio-political Yoruba group that endorsed Peter Obi of the Labour Party, has said the country’s future is tied to his preferred presidential candidate.
The factional Afenifere leader made the comment on Thursday, February 3, in Abuja following a meeting with the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), The Cable reported.
After the meeting, the group announced its endorsement of Peter Obi.
According to Adebanjo, voting for Peter Obi will show that Nigeria values ethnicity and religious inclusion.
In a veiled attack on the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adebanjo alleged that the northerners are not willing to renege power to the south and that is why many of them are not supporting their candidate.
He added that if Obi did not win the 2023 election, non-Muslims and non-northerners will never become the President of the country.
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Recall that Nigeria has produced a number of Southern Christian presidents. This includes Agunyi Ironsi, Ernest Shoneka, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Goodluck Jonathan who are all southern Christians.
The country has also had a northern Christian who ruled the country for 9 years as a military head of state, Yakubu Gowon.
However, no southern Muslim has ever taken up the first tough job in the country.
Adebanjo’s statement reads in part:
“We will give it what it takes. It is either bend or break. If Obi does not win, forget a country called Nigeria. If we lose this election, there will be no opportunity for a non-Christian, a non-northerner to be president again.”
Source: calabargistblog.com.ng
