Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate and human rights activist, says the idea of rotational presidency in Nigeria is “senseless” and should be discarded.
Sowore made the statement during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Tuesday.
He argued that what Nigeria needs is a competent leader, not a president selected based on region or ethnicity.
His words: “If I have a good president in Nigeria, who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from.
“That is what the majority of the Nigerian people are aspiring for. That is the idea of this federation — that all the federating units should be able to have an opportunity.”
The activist criticised the zoning of the presidency between the north and south, saying it often excludes other ethnic groups and stifles meritocracy.
“When you zone it to the north, the majority of the northerners would want to take a shot at it.
“When you zone it back to the south, the south of Nigeria is not Yoruba or Igbo alone. It is just senseless,” he stated.
Sowore said that presidential hopefuls should be judged based on their qualifications, ideas, and leadership qualities — not their geopolitical zone.
He stated: “Zoning the presidency to the worst character in the country is not going to make you get anywhere.
“Give everybody a chance. That is why they said, ‘Come and contest for president, governor, local government chairman, and present your agenda, speak to us, and we will look at your character, exposure, and vote for you’.”