A cloud of uncertainty surrounds the quest by some prominent northern politicians to hoodwink the South into accepting a plan to retain power in their part of the country.
Reports say most frontrunners of the plot to rob the South have become a bit hesitant of late.
The atmosphere of unease emanating from the North is coming against the backdrop of a decision by the South to resist any attempt to jettison power rotation.
From emerging facts, Southern leaders are insisting that after eight years of Northern rule, power should rotate.
Somehow, the North Central appears determined to back the South in the battle to ensure that power rotates.
Governor Nyesom Wike who is being described as a Muslim hater by MURIC, a pro-Islamic group had warned the nation of what was to come.
Lighting the flame of political resistance when he spoke in Port Harcourt, the Rivers Governor stated, “We will choke them.”
Wike’s defiance over the issue of power rotation, which tallies with the position of the Southern Governors Forum, a body comprising of APC and PDP governors, has led to sharp reactions.
MURIC said Wike and others like him should never be allowed to hold office at the centre.
Many Nigerians concerned about the stability of the country are however, at a loss to understand how a principled position which borders on equity and fairness could be tied to hate issues as, claimed by MURIC.
Tuesday, Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State, restated that any political party which fields a Northern Presidential candidate in 2023 will not win.
Akeredolu, equally the Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, emphasized any party that presents a Northern presidential candidate in 2023 would not win.
He stressed that Governors from the Southern part of the country are determined to ensure that the power sharing arrangement is upheld.
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A courtesy visit by members of a group, Power Rotation Movement, led by the Chairman, Dr Pogu Bitrus, who doubles as the Chairman, Middle Belt Forum provided the platform for Akeredolu: “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 eight 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.”
Governor Ortom (right) once accused Governor Mohammed Mohammed of planning to kill him.
Presenting the position of the group earlier, the Chairman of the movement, Dr Pogu Bitrus, declared that the Movement is committed to the return of power to the South.
“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.”
Members of the Group who called on the Governor in Akure included the Co-chair, General Collins Ihekire, (rtd), representing the Ohaneze Ndigbo; National Organising Secretary of Afenifere, Kole Omololu; and the representative of Yoruba Council of Elders, Ayodele Oni.
Others were the National Publicity Secretary of Afenfere, Jaye Ajayi; National Publicity Secretary of PANDEF, Ken Robinson; and Kennedy Iyere, National Coordinator of Power-shift Movement & Forty Million Ballots ( a movement being driven by the Youth) among others.
The coalition between the South and the Middle Belt must explain why northern politicians are jittery.
Atiku Abubakar was in Benue recently to visit Governor Samuel Ortom where he spoke of his close ties with the Tivs.
Ortom’s response sealed it. Atiku did not lift a finger, he said, when the Benue people displaced from their lands and other possessions by Fulani herds men needed shelter.
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It would however not be the first time that the Middle Belt would work with the South.
Prior to the election of Late MKO Abiola, the Middle Belt went along with the South because of alleged moves to anihiliate them over religion.
This time, the Middle Belt is moving Southward because of an attempt by so-called herders to allegedly drive them away from their land through clashes over open grazing.