The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has stated that Nigerians, not any individual, will determine who succeeds President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kalu made the remark on Friday while speaking with journalists at his country home in Bende, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.
Responding to questions on whether President Tinubu might hand over power to a Southeast candidate in 2031, Kalu urged the Igbo people to strengthen relationships with other regions of the country, following the example of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, whose outreach helped him secure support across zones.
“The President is a democrat. It is not in his powers to hand over to anybody. It is Nigerians who will decide where power goes,” Kalu said.
“This is why I have always asked our people to extend a handshake across the Niger. We should embrace other sections of the country and stop talking down on any region. The loudest voices on social media are often the Igbos. We need to relate and partner with others; that is what national cohesion is about.
“Now that power is in the Southern political corridor, the man at the helm is from the South. This is the time to solidify our relationships, especially with the Southwest. When it is our time, those who partnered with us will reciprocate. But if we stay here criticising others, they are watching. When it is your turn, they will partner with those who partnered with them. It is all about partnership.
“Who are we partnering with now as Igbos? Igbos alone cannot make themselves President. The late President Buhari tried, but it only became possible when he reached out to other regions. Can we forget past grievances and begin to reach out?
“We do business across Nigeria. We are nationalistic. We live in every part of the country. But can we partner politically the same way we do in business? If we do, the Southeast can regain its past political prominence, like in the days of Nnamdi Azikiwe and other leaders who shaped the nation.
“If the President completes his tenure in 2031, any successor will be decided by Nigerians.”
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
