A coalition of northern groups, Arewa Concerned Civil Society Organisations of Nigeria, on Monday, declared support for the presidential ambition of a former President of the Senate and one-time Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, in the coming 2023 general elections.
The CSOs said that in the spirit of fairness and equity, South East should produce the next president as it is the only zone that is yet to assume that exalted position. The group added that a presidency of the former secretary to government of the federation will unify the country.
The spokesman for the coalition, Abdulsalam Kazeem, made this known at a press conference on Monday in Abuja.
The youth bloc described Anyim as a bridgebuilder who would ensure all interests are protected across board.
Members of the youth bloc include the Arewa Youth Assembly, Arewa Students Forum, Concerned Northern Forum, North East Peace Movement, Arewa Youth Council, Northern Youth Assembly, Northern Women Initiative Forum, North East Development Council, North Central Grassroots Foundation, Arewa Female Youth Ambassadors Initiative, Initiative of Youth Advocate on Humanitarian Affairs, Arewa Youth Movement, amongst others.
Kazeem said it realized that “only two regions out of the six geopolitical regions have not occupied either President or Vice-President seat since 1999 till date, which is unfair and against any democratic standard worldwide”.
He said, “The South East, for instance, is part and parcel of the Nigerian project from day one till date; and, they should be treated fairly just like other zones of the country.
“They too deserve to get what others have gotten because they have paid their dues in terms of contributions and consolidation of Nigeria.
“The region is being captured in all other sectors of the Nigerian economy based on federal character from 1999 till date, but are denied either of the two positions mentioned earlier.”
