A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Engineer Babachir David Lawal, has made a surprising statement in an interview on Daily Trust TV, saying that he prefers a Northerner to be the next president of Nigeria.
Lawal, who hails from Adamawa State, explained that he did not support the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, despite being from the same state. He chose to support Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, because he had earlier championed the idea that the presidency should come from the South.
According to Lawal, he had been working towards getting a president from the South before the 2023 elections. When asked why he supported Peter Obi instead of Atiku Abubakar, he replied that Anambra State, where Obi comes from, is also entitled to produce a president.
However, in a surprising turn of events, Lawal stated that he believes the North should produce the next president in the next election. This statement has raised eyebrows among many Nigerians, who are already gearing up for the 2023 presidential elections.
It is unclear what factors influenced Lawal's decision to change his stance on the matter. The interview has sparked a heated debate on social media, with many Nigerians calling for more transparency and clarity on the issue.
As the election season heats up, Lawal's endorsement of a Northern presidential candidate is likely to have significant implications for political dynamics in Nigeria. The country is expected to hold its presidential election in February 2023.