The Southern Governors’ Forum has reacted to the decision by 11 governors from the North under the agies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to back Southern candidates for the 2023 presidency.
The position was made known by its Chairman and Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu.
In a statement late on Saturday, Akeredolu acknowledged the receipt of the news with “utmost joy”.
He said in the statement: “We received with utmost joy the news of the resolution of the 11 Governors from the Northern Region thus:
“We therefore wish to strongly recommend to President Muhammad Buhari that the search for his successor as the APC Presidential Candidate be limited to our compatriots from the Southern states.
“We appeal to all aspirants from the Northern state to withdraw in the national interest and allow only the aspirants from the south to proceed to the primaries.
“We are delighted by the decision of our esteem colleague His Excellency Gov. Abubakar Badaru to contribute to this patriotic quest by withdrawing his presidential aspiration.
“We did not expect anything short of this heart-warming decision from our colleagues, great patriots and reliable partners in the collaborative efforts geared towards the attainment of nationhood for our dear country.
“This is indeed another landmark achievement in our quest for understanding, rapprochement and continual engagements for mutual beneficence.
“We acknowledge this courageous stance for equity and moral rectitude.
“We applaud the zeal and determination of our brothers to engage realistically and honestly.
“We salute this uncommon resolve to confront issues militating against the march towards nationhood and ultimate greatness.
“By this gesture, we are convinced of the seriousness of our colleagues to join other patriots in ensuring that the ascendant march towards stability, progress and prosperity is not truncated by indiscretion.
