Southern Nigeria Christian elders yesterday backed calls for North-South power rotation.
They urged the major political parties to zone their presidential tickets to the South. The elders also urged Southern governors to back a candidate from the Southeast for president.
In a communique issued in Enugu after a meeting of the Southern Nigeria Christian Vanguard, the elders said zoning the presidency seat to the South would foster peace and unity.
The communique was signed by the group’s chairman, Most Rev. Isaac Nwaobia, the Secretary, Bishop Joseph Ajujungwa, and others.
They said: “Southern leaders, both Christians and Muslims should, as a matter of urgency, come together and support the declaration of the Southern Governors’ Forum on the rotation of the presidency between the North and the South.
“We are calling on the two major political parties, the APC (All Progressives Congress) and the PDP (Peoples Democratic Party), to field candidates from the South in the 2023 election.
“This is a decision that would show that we are truly one Nigeria and there should be no going back on it.
“It is also our position that the governors of the 17 Southern States must close the ranks and support a credible candidate from Southern Nigeria, especially, the Southeast.”
The elders called on religious leaders to begin aggressive mobilisation of their members for voters’ registration.
They stressed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) “will count votes during the election and not prayers”.
“We must prevail on our members to get their voter’s card,” the elders said.
They also condemned rising insecurity in the country.
“We are also calling on all the killer herdsmen, bandits and unknown gunmen to leave Southern Nigeria in peace.
“Security agencies must rise to the occasion and arrest the situation.
“We warn trouble makers in the political field to stop fomenting trouble and focus on the welfare and prosperity of the people and the nation, according to their oath of office.
“Presidential aspirants who lack what it takes to turn around the fortunes of this country should give way,” the Christian group said.