The Southern Governors’ Forum has extolled the northern governors’ call for the zoning of the All Progressives Congress presidential ticket to the South.

The northern governors elected on the platform of the APC had earlier said the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election must emerge from the South after eight years of President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure.

Reacting to the development via a statement issued by the Chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, the governors said the call was another landmark achievement in Forum’s quest for understanding, rapprochement and continual engagements for mutual beneficence.

The statement read: “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 Badru 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.

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“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.”

The Forum further commended Jigawa State Governor, Abubakar Badaru, from withdrawing from the APC presidential saying, noting that posterity would remember the governor for good.

It added: “We thank the leadership of the Northern Governors’ Forum for the patriotic zest displayed at this crucial moment.

“We look forward to conducting a hitch free Convention which will culminate in the election of a suitable candidate who will hoist the flag of the party with a sense of mission.”

The Star