Ex-IGP Okiro Explains South-South Backing For Yari

Former Inspector General of Police and the Chairman, of the Board of Trustees of South-South Community in Abuja, Mike Okiro has affirmed the given reason why the group is backing former Governor Abdulaziz Yari for the position of Senate President.

Speaking when a delegation of the community visited Yari he said that the community identified with his aspiration and had come to tell him that “we are here to tell you that we are with you, we support you. We are  with you in prayers

 Besides Okiro also present in the delegation was Dr Cairo Ojougboh, a former executive director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC who worked under Senator Godswill Akpabio as minister of Niger Delta Affairs but has apparently pulled out from supporting his aspiration to be Senate President.

“We are going to spread the news of our visit. We hope that God will hear our prayers and bless your ambition.”

Elaborating on why the community was backing Yari, the Coordinator of the group, Chief Premier Bello, noted what he described as the historic relationship between the South-South and the North.

He said: “Your Excellency, you will recalled when the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken spoke with his Excellency, President Bola Tinubu when he was President-elect few weeks ago, he advised that for Mr. President to succeed in office, the principle of mutual inclusiveness should be respected. We are concerned that the North has come up with the idea of balancing, it’s advisable that the three heads of government namely; the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary shouldn’t come from one part of the country, the South.

“It has come to our notice that the North is of the opinion that towards the run up of the 2023 general elections, the South insisted that the President must come from the South, the North West especially, agreed and cooperated.

“We are also informed that the North feels that one good turn deserve another, that since the heads of the Executive and Judicial arms of government are from the South, it’s only fair that the head of the Legislature should come from the North.

“We the people of South South believe that what is good for the goose is also good for the gander. We therefore identify with the position of the North and plead that the principle of balancing and inclusiveness be respected. That is the reason why we are here.

“Furthermore, a look at the Curriculum Vitae (CV) of his Excellency, the Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari, shows that he was two-time governor, Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum, held executive position in the party amongst other positions.

“It is an open secret that the Senator-elect, Abdulaziz Yari is in complete harmony with all the people, who helped him into positions and for this reason, the South South is assured that if His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu and the APC support Abdulaziz Yari or at least allow a free and fair contest, Mr. Yari will cooperate with President Tinubu to make Nigeria great.”

Responding, Yari said:

“It is only God who enthrone or makes the king. This is to call the attention of anyone who thinks that he enthrone and dethrone. Those that are on the throne should remember that they were given the throne by God and that God never shifts from where he is. This is a clarion call for everyone. It is only God, it is only God’s decision that will prevail.”

Speaking further, the former governor of Zamfara State and the Senator representing Zamfara West in the Senate, urged political stakeholders to do the right thing by following the rule of law.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu while taking his oath of office said he would rule Nigeria with the rule of law and the constitution. We are waiting. I am proud to be a founding father of where we are today and I have no regret. But let us see where the rule of law will go,” he said.

He called on all Nigeria leaders to address the issue of South South collectively, adding, “the issue of the south south is very clear to all Nigeria leaders, they are many, they need to be addressed collectively.

“The livelihood of South South is farming, fishing and others but today because of the land degradation, that is no longer there. Also because of the way the structure of government that is set up by colonial masters, we are just looking for what to do.”

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