Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has described Rotational Presidency as unconstitutional and called on Nigerians to freely choose their president from any part of the country.
Bello made the eemark while addressing journalists at the First Annual GYB Seminar for Nigeria’s Political and Crime Correspondents at Transcorp Hilton Hotel on Friday in Abuja.
The governor said the best and capable candidate should be chosen to steer the statecraft saying, “Nigeria of today is a ship that requires the best captain to deliver it to its destination.”
If zoning will resolve our problem, when Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo was President, all the problems of the southwest should have been solved.
“When President Umaru Yar’adua was there, all the problems of the North would have been solved and similarly, all Southern problems would have been solved during the era of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“When you are sick and you need a doctor you don’t care where the doctor comes, his tribe or religion because they do not count all you want is to be healed”, he said.
“I will continue to insist that let the best candidate who will build on the legacies that Mr President is leaving behind emerge and should the nation go on Rotational Presidency, it should be done fairly with equity”, he said.
On state police, Bello said that at a point in Nigerian history State Independent Electoral Commissions were created but Nigerians were now crying that Local Government Elections should be conducted by INEC.
He said that State Police was not the best for the country as it was likely to be misused if allowed to sail adding that Community Policing should rather, be strengthened to function efficiently as in Kogi.
Mr Chris Isiguzo, President of the Nigeria Union Of Journalists (NUJ) said gathering journalists from across the country for the seminar was a step in the right direction.
He said that the GYB administration had been able to transform Kogi State from the decripit point where he met it to the pinnacle point where the state sits today.
“What is happening today is one of such initiatives coming from Kogi State and this should be first time in the history of this country for the governor to come not just to talk to journalist but to empower them by building their capacity and equip them to report Nigeria for Nigeria”.
He also urged journalists to undertake their reportage with selfless patriotism and placing the country above all.
Dr Folashade Arike Ayoade, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) in her welcome remarks, said the seminar was meant to provide for moment of sober reflection on issues bedeviling the nation.
She pointed out that the forum would afford participants insights into how the state is dealing with challenges as it affects burning national issues in governance.