In an encouraging solidarity to the southern east, a prominent South westerner, a Yoruba man, Ebunola Martins has strongly thrown his weight behind zoning of Nigerian presidency to the south east in 2023.
Martins who is the Coordinator of Buhari/Osinbajo Support Groups (BOSG), on Tuesday, February 30, suggested that the two dominant political parties, the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should zone their 2023 presidential ticket to the south east.
Featuring in Arise Television morning programme, The Morning Show, Martins insisted that the south east should produce the presidency next year for the sake of equity and fairness.
Said he, “first, I am a Yoruba man before becoming a Nigerian. I believe in the Yoruba people and I believe in our Tribe and tradition, so I can not betraying a Yoruba man.
In this 2023 election, if we want to be fair, and we want to talk about zoning, the unwritten zoning, because as you know, people have said it is not constitutional, I agree that it is not constitutional, some people have said zoning will not give you the best, I agree, but for fairness and justice, and that is why I am saying that even my big brother, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu, if I were him, I will not run for the election.
“I will encourage my brothers from the east. We are friends, we are the same, we are from the south.
“We (Southwest) have had our own, south south have had their shot, I will encourage the easterners to do so.
“Even both political parties should bring their candidates from the southeast, just like we did in 1999 that we brought both (Olusegun) Obasanjo and (Olu) Falae just to give the southwest that comfort that you are part of us, even that (1993) election was annulled, we don’t hate you as a region.
“So, the two major political parties brought out these two people and I think that is what we should do for the southeasterners.
“I believe so. My vote will go to southeast. As a person, I believe we should give them that grace of the opportunity to do that”, Martins argued.