‘Atiku’s push for return of power to North is insult’ — Laolu Akande

Former presidential aide Laolu Akande has criticised the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s reported position on power returning to the North, describing the argument as an insult to Nigerians from the region.

Akande, a former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity in the Office of the Vice President, made the remarks while speaking on Symfoni TV on Friday.

Speaking on the readiness and viability of presidential candidates ahead of the coming election, Akande argued that the country must maintain the principle of rotational presidency to promote a sense of belonging among its various regions.

“Atiku is just basically saying that, okay, the North is angry; we want power back. And that idea, with due respect to our brothers in the North, is an insult. It’s an insult. This country, we must maintain rotational presidency for purposes of building a sense of belonging,” he said.

Speaking on the ADC’s choice of presidential candidate, he said, “If they were serious, they should have picked Amaechi, or they should have prevented Obi from leaving, and then Atiku would have been a star.”