Former presidential candidate and human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, has criticised the practice of rotational presidency in Nigeria, calling it a “senseless” approach to leadership selection.
Speaking on a national television programme on Tuesday, Sowore argued that competence and vision should take precedence over regional or ethnic considerations when choosing the country’s president.
“If I have a good president in Nigeria, who can run this country very well, I don’t care where he comes from,” he said. “That is what the majority of the Nigerian people are aspiring for.”
He emphasised that the essence of a true federation is equal opportunity for all, not rigid zoning arrangements.
“When you zone it to the north, the majority of the northerners would want to take a shot at it. When you zone it back to the south, the south of Nigeria is not Yoruba or Igbo alone. It is just senseless,” Sowore stated.
He urged Nigerians to evaluate presidential aspirants based on merit — including their qualifications, character, exposure, and manifestos — rather than on geopolitical identity.
“Zoning the presidency to the worst character in the country is not going to make you get anywhere,” he added. “Give everybody a chance… present your agenda, speak to us, and we will look at your character, exposure, and vote for you.”
