It was not because we wanted Asiwaju to be President — Lalong speaks on zoning

The Northern Governors of the APC did not necessarily support Bola Tinubu becoming President of Nigeria when they backed the transfer of power to the southern region of the country, according to Simon Lalong, the Governor of Plateau State and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum.

According to a statement from his director of press and public affairs, Macham Makut, Lalong spoke at the 9th annual Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Lecture on Leadership and Good Governance, which was held in Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Saturday.

The Governor said, “When I led my colleagues – the Northern Governors – to push for power shift to the South, it was not because we wanted Asiwaju to be President. Rather, we wanted to ensure that justice and fairness prevail in our nation for unity, peace, and harmony. That is what we believe our revered father of blessed memory, Sir Ahmadu Bello, would do in such circumstances. Fortunately, the party delegates chose Asiwaju who was eventually accepted by Nigerians as he was unanimously elected”.

Lalong pleaded with all Nigerians, both in the North and the rest of the nation, to back Tinubu when he assumes the reins of power.

The governor remarked that the late Sardauna’s legacy has persisted for a very long time after his passing and continues to motivate leaders in the area and around the nation because of the accommodating, tolerating, just, and fair life he led.