Against the debates and discussions of who must be the President of Nigeria comes 2023, Arakurin Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, adviced that the political parties wishing and willing to be President must present a Southern candidate in order to win the election.

Rotimi Akeredolu shared this when in Akure, the Ondo state capital during a courtesy call by Power Rotation Movement, led by the Chairman, Dr Pogu Bitrus, and is the Chairman, Middle Belt Forum.

Other members of the group that visit the governor include the Co-chair, Rtd. General Collins Ihekire, representing the Ohaneze Ndigbo; National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Abagun Kole Omololu; representative of Yoruba Council of Elders, Hon. Ayodele Oni; National Publicity Secretary of Afenfere, Comrade Jaye Ajayi; National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Hon. Ken. Robinson; and Comrade Kennedy Iyere, National Coordinator of Power-shift Movement & Forty Million Ballots ( a movement being driven by the Youth) among others.

The Governor said “In about two or three meetings, we have come out and declared that power must move to the south.

“Only a party that is determined to lose will field a northern candidate. You are now a movement of members of political parties coming together.

“What we stand for is fair and equitable power rotation. The only thing fair is that after 8 years in the north, it should come to the south.

“Some of us believe in One Nigeria that’s fair and equitable. We have a reason for it and it can be defended. Some people have argued that the Presidency should be based on competence. Are they saying there are no competent ones in the south?

“My brother Governors from the south, all of us are determined. Whosoever we pick, for as long as it is south, we will support him.

“We are saying the President must come from the south. There are people who merit it in the South-South, South- East, and the South-West.

“I also support your approach. If you are able to mobilize the youth and do not allow the election to be rigged, then we will win. You should also get our women to support us.”

Dr. Pogu Bitrus, the Chairman of the movement, and delegation said that the movement is passionate about power rotation away from the North.

“We are passionate believers that power should rotate in this country and should move from the north to the south.

“We launched the 40 million ballot movement. That’s the sensitization of the youth. We launched it for our youth to key in.

Leaders in the south and middle belt met in Abuja and agreed that power should rotate to the south, that the middle belt and the south should move against any party that fields any candidate outside the southern part of the country, he concluded.

As part of the visit, Comrade Kennedy Iyere, presented a T-Shirt of the 40Million Ballots Movement to His Excellency, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN. He has endorsed the project and has confirmed his involvement as a Special Advocate of the 40Million Ballots Movement. Key Leaders of Afenifere, Middle Belt Forum, PANDEF, Yoruba Council of Elders, Igbo Elders Council and jointly led the DELEGATION and Inab NIDMECORP.