A group, Northern Consensus Movement has insisted that the north should retain presidency in 2023.
Speaking at a world press conference on Wednesday in Kaduna, the group explained that the South has ruled for more years under the present democratic dispensation, since ex President Olusegun Obasanjo took over in 1999.
The group, through its convener and President, Comrade Awwal Abdullahi Aliyu argued that the North should be allowed to do four more years to balance the amount of years enjoyed by the South.
“We still have a balance of four years. The South combined has held the office of the President since 1999 for 14 years. By the time President Muhammdu Buhari complete his tenure, the north would have spent 10 years.
“We insist the morth be allowed to spend another four years to get a balance, afterwards, we can sit at a dialogue and determine how we can do rotational presidency,” he said.
The group emphasized that the political leaders cannot decide who leads northerners as the masses comprise over 99 per cent of the population.
“They cannot arm twist us on who would lead us. This is the position of the masses of Northern Nigeria.
Speaking further, he recalled recent happenings in the country, which has led to loss of lives and property of Northerners in the South.
“From the EndSARS, to the Shasha crisis and upheavals in the South-East which have affected the north, we have lost a lot.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari delegated Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State to dialogue with the group on how the losses invited by Northerners amounting to N45.5 billion Naira could be recovered.
The NCM President insisted that the north remains one and is a bloc, so whatever touches a single northerner affects all and they will fight to ensure the wrong is made right, following the constitution of 1999.
He said in view of that, they are inaugurating committees to ensure northerners who lost from recent upheavals in the south are compensated.
He said another committee would be inaugurated to ensure the north remains united.
Comrade Aliyu explained further that the north remains accommodative and property of Southerners are worth billions in Northern NIgeria.
He said about 17m Igbos and 19m Yorubas are resident in the North.
Speaking further, the group called on Nigerians to be united and help the country progress faster.
