Governor Aminu Bello Masari
Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has thrown his weight behind a power shift to the South in the forthcoming Presidential elections in 2023.
The Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum had said after a meeting of the Governors in Kaduna on 27 September 2021, that shifting power to the south violates the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
However, while speaking during an interactive session with journalists at the State Government House, on Tuesday, Dec. 28, Masari, who is the Governor of President Muhammadu Buhari’s home State, said this isn’t true, and he maintained that power should shift to the South in 2023.
He said: “I am a member of the Northern Governors’ Forum. But let me make my position very clear. This constitution is made for us and not us for the constitution. Yes the constitution did not say you must shift or rotate power. So, If you do, does that mean you have violated the Constitution? If you collectively decide to elect a president from any part of this country, have you violated the constitution?”
The Katsina Governor said he would continue to advocate for rotation of power in the country until Nigeria politics is out of the murky waters.
He said: “I still believe as a principle not as a law that until such a time when we have a stable politics, I think rotation or shifting power from time to time will help to consolidate our federation. I support it. So, I still maintain my stand.
“This is my personal opinion as a person which I think that the constitution you have mentioned has given me the right to make that comment. That’s why I said in my capacity as Aminu Bello Masari.”
Masari also recalled that in the 90’s while he was a member of the constitutional conference and transition committee, “the initial recommendation of our committee was that each zone would be given the opportunity of five years to lead through the instrumentality of the National Assembly.
“But that was the recommendation of the transition committee. Even though, after that, a lot of things happened before coming to the floor. All that has become part of history but I have the records. I know what happened.
“So, I think the fact of the matter is that we have to understand that the constitution is made to guide us and there are certain positions, by taking them, you are not compromising the constitution, nor are you breaking the law. So my position remains the same. I do believe in the power shift.”
