‘Our region will produce the president in 2019’ — northern elders begin consultation

Some politicians and elders from the northern part of the country have started consultations with other geo-political zones ahead of the 2019 elections.

The politicians and elders, who converged on Abuja on Saturday, under the aegis of Northern Elders and Stakeholders Conversation, said stakeholders have agreed that the north will produce the president in the 2019 election.

The meeting was co-convened by Bello Mohammed, a former minister of defence; Ibrahim Mantu, a former deputy senate president; and Paul Wampana, a former senator.

In his opening remark, Mohammed, a former acting national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said for the north to attain the desired unity, deliberate measures should be taken towards forging a strong bond on solidarity among the political class.

He said it had become critical to establish a wide and enduring political network and channel of communication for consultations and dialogue among the apparatus and leadership of all the various northern political elite.

“This will reduce acrimony and conflict and conversely create trust among the northern political elite and facilitate the attainment of the set goals—cultural and political unity of the north,” he said.

“It is our unity in the north that can facilitate and give legitimacy to our alliance with the south to provide the required leadership to move this country forward.

“From what is apparent in the political arena today, it is clear that the major political operators have agreed that in the forthcoming 2019 election, it is the turn of the north to produce the president.

“Therefore, there is a need to partner with brothers and sisters from other regions to ensure that, this time around, the leadership that shall emerge is one that can unite and develop our country with equity, justice and peace for all; this is the main objective of this meeting.”

In his remark, Tanko Yakasai, an elder statesman who chaired the meeting, said it had become urgent for elite of the north to stand up in unity and save Nigeria from instability.

He said the conversation, though political, was non-partisan and not a prelude to the formation of a political party.

According to him, the conversation represents all shades of political opinions, ethnic and religious diversities of the north.