**South West Should Produce Candidate in 2027 while South East should produce in 2031**
As the coalition of opposition leaders against President Bola Tinubu gathers momentum, the leader of Arewa Summit International, Dr. Bashir Lamido says the South-East should wait till 2031.
This comes amid clamour by the Obidient Movement for Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP, to fly the presidential flag of the coalition whenever they decide on a political platform.
The Obidients have remained firm that they would not accept any arrangement that would throw up Obi as a running mate to any of the other members of the coalition.
Other key members of the coalition are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Nasir El-Rufai, Chibuike Amaechi, Babachir Lawal, among others.
However, speaking during a high-level political dialogue on zoning and national cohesion held in Abuja on Friday, Lamido was of the opinion that the South West should produce all presidential candidates for the 2027 elections.
He said the South East should take the same opportunity in 2031, emphasising that the rotational approach would promote unity, fairness, and long-term political stability across Nigeria.
“For the sake of equity, national integration, and the stability of our democracy, we believe the South West should present all presidential candidates in 2027.
“Then, come 2031, the South East – which has long awaited its turn – should be given the full platform to produce the next president,” Lamido stated.
He further stressed that the proposal is not about excluding any group, but rather about setting a national precedent for justice and inclusion.
“This is not just about politics. It’s about healing, trust-building, and showing every Nigerian that they belong to the same nation. People may ask, what about the north? It should be the turn of the north in 2031.
“They forget that the North has spent more years leading the country than any other region.
“It is just right to balance the leadership across the regions. We are only hoping that in 2031, the South East should be extended same national compliments as we are hopeful to do for South West in 2027,” he said.
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