It’s not right for South-East to produce next president – Anyim

Former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, has said that it is legally not right for the South East to produce the next president in 2023.

This is coming amidst calls for the presidency to move to the South in 2023 to allow for an Igbo presidency.

Speaking at the National Convention of the United for Better Nigeria Initiative (UBNI) held in Abuja on Saturday, Anyim said the constitution says every Nigerian of 40 years is entitled to become the president and not a region.

Anyim submitted that it is morally right for the Southeast to produce President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor because the federal character principle enshrined in the constitution encourages rotation.

The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation said although the region can aspire to have an Igbo president in 2023, the only way such an aspiration can come to reality is through dialogue and persuasion.

Anyim asked leaders and stakeholders in the South East to persuade other regions for support and not make threats and demands.

He said: “Is it right for the south-east to produce the next president? My answer is legally no, and the reason is that the constitution is clear. The constitution says every Nigerian of 40 years is entitled to aspire for that office.

“On the other side, morally, is it right? Is it an entitlement? I will say yes because the federal character principle enshrined in the constitution encourages rotation.

“The reason I have to make this clarification is that when the right you have is not legal, the only approach and the instrument you have is persuasion.

“So, the approach, the language will be to persuade others to see reason with you that morally they should support you to take a turn since it rotates.”