Power must remain in South in 2027 – Segun Showunmi

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Showunmi says keeping power in the South beyond 2027 is essential for preserving the country’s political balance and honouring an unwritten understanding that has helped stabilise Nigeria’s democracy. He spoke on Monday in Abeokuta during the “Guest Forum” organised by the Correspondents […]

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Otunba Segun Showunmi says keeping power in the South beyond 2027 is essential for preserving the country’s political balance and honouring an unwritten understanding that has helped stabilise Nigeria’s democracy.

He spoke on Monday in Abeokuta during the “Guest Forum” organised by the Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State Council.

Showunmi said Nigeria’s history as a union of the former Northern and Southern Protectorates makes it important for leaders to respect the idea of timing and rotation.

He noted that while he holds former Vice President Atiku Abubakar in high regard, political moment requires a clear appreciation of the country’s power-sharing policy.

“I love Atiku but I am afraid he’s a man who does not understand the concept of seasons and time,” Showunmi, who was a spokesman for Atiku, said.

He explained that since the North held the presidency for eight years under Muhammadu Buhari, many Nigerians expect the South to retain the position in the current cycle.

Showunmi added that although political disagreements in the South are inevitable, they do not change the wider expectation that the region should still produce the president at this time.

He also cautioned that any move to push power back to the North in 2027 could create unnecessary strain, particularly among southern and Middle Belt groups that see rotation as a matter of fairness.

Speaking on Atiku’s possible ambition in 2027, he said, “I love Atiku but I am afraid he’s a man who does not understand the concept of seasons and time.

“But if he understands seasons and time, he would know, and he ought to know, that an amalgamated country called Southern Protectorate and Northern Protectorate must run on the pendulum system.

“When it swung to the North, Buhari did his eight years, now it has swung to the South. You can quarrel among yourselves in the South but it will have to remain in the South otherwise if the North is not very careful, there will be a locking up of the South and the MiddleBelt and when they (North) insist that it will always be their turn, when it is not their turn, then maybe when it becomes their turn, it will not be their turn.”

Meanwhile, Showunmi appealed to President Bola Tinubu to explore a political solution in the case of leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) , Nnamdi Kanu who was recently sentenced to life imprisonment.

Showunmi noted that “a greater good of the country is served if he is released than keeping him behind bars.”

He said “The civil war is long over and it needs to be over. There can be no justification for the killings of Igbos in Igboland under whatever guise.

“Why don’t you let us find a way to collaborate within ourselves and shatter the glass ceiling which is the presidency.

“I call on the Federal government and President Bola Tinubu that for the benefit of this nation and the people we have lost to keeping this country together plead that we are now due for a political solution to the Kanu’s case.

“We want the Igbos to understand that there is no conspiracy to do them injustice. We must be willing to look for a political solution because a greater good of the country is served if he is released than keeping him behind bars.

“By leaving him behind bars, we are energising that audience that is just misbahing and killing people in the SouthEast.”

Showunmi, however, dismissed that notion that judgment delivered by has a political colouration.

“It is only the court of appeal that can determine if there is a miscarriage of justice or not in the case, but let nobody imagine that there is any tribalism or otherwise in that judgement,” he said.

Speaking on the Alternative, Showunmi said the platform is not a political party but a civic space created to mobilise and encourage Nigerians, particularly young people, to take part in politics and the electoral process.

He noted that Nigeria’s democracy can only grow when more people, especially, are involved in shaping it.