Atiku was part of decision for rotational presidency — Nigerian govt

The Federal Government says the African Democratic Congress, ADC, presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, was among the political leaders who agreed to the adoption of rotational presidency in Nigeria following the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, made this known on Tuesday at a World Press Conference held in Abuja as part of activities marking Nigeria’s 27th Democracy Day Anniversary.

Akume described the agreement as a tough but necessary decision to preserve national unity.

Akume’s Media and Publicity Adviser, Yomi Odunuga, in a statement, said the SGF recalled that leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP met in Kaduna under the leadership of the late Chief Solomon Lar and Alhaji Adamu Ciroma to deliberate on the way forward after the annulment, with power shift and the party’s presidential candidature featuring prominently on the agenda.

“It was a tough argument before the issue of rotational presidency was agreed on. At the end, we had to concede. We must do this. June 12 annulment had complicated the whole thing.

“It was finally agreed that we’ll be alternating between North and South. Atiku was one of the leaders at that meeting, which was convened by Chief Solomon Lar. He was part of that agreement,” Akume stated.