Zulum: South East, South South should negotiate for 2023

Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, has opined that the south-south and south-east should negotiate for the presidency in 2023, saying “Negotiation becomes easier when you make friends across the divide.

The governor who spoke at the 17th Chief Gani Fawehinmi annual lecture in Lagos on Friday said even though only God gives power, across the divide will be better through negotiations. He added that any region interested in taking over power in 2023 should negotiate for it

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“To our friends and brothers in the south-south and south-east particularly, only God gives power but you have to negotiate for power,” the professor said.

“Negotiation becomes easier when you make friends across the divide. If we negotiate for power, we don’t always get everything we want, but we will normally mention every clause that covers everything we need.

“I said this because I have heard many people say ‘they don’t want to give us power’ but assumptions and projections will never actualize your aspirations. We must all remember that God gives power but human beings negotiate for it.

“Every interested party must be prepared to negotiate for it.”

Zulum said other sections of the country should be given the opportunity to lead, The Cable reports.

“I’m persuaded that other sections of the country should be given the opportunity to lead in 2023, why not? It is constitutional,” he said.

“Let me state here that I have a problem with the age limit set at 40 [for the presidency], because whatever is the logic behind it, it is difficult to consider it valid in contemporary times.”