Former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido has urged the older generation of politicians to leave the scene for the younger generations.
He stated this while declaring his support for the 2023 presidential ambition of Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
Lamido spoke when a large delegation of the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Sokoto paid him a courtesy visit.
FirstNews learnt that the visit was part of Tambuwal’s ongoing consultation with major stakeholders in preparation for a formal declaration of his presidential ambition.
Speaking at his Bamaina residence in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, Lamido young people with fresh ideas should be allowed to lead the country.
According to the PDP chieftain, Nigeria is currently in a state that requires a leader with ideas, dynamism and creativity as well youthful energy and above all, competence.
He said it was time old political leaders of the country made personal sacrifices for the survival of Nigeria’s democracy.
He said, ”People like us who are in our 70s have been called analogue and therefore, phased out, we accept with grace that we are old.
“We must give Nigeria the kind of leaders it deserves, not based on ethnic background, religion or zone, but based on his capacity, competence and we want a Nigerian leader and president, not the president of either the north or south, so to me, zoning doesn’t have meaning any more.”
On zoning he said, “Those clamouring for zoning? Who are they giving orders, who are they commanding? I believe there has to be a common understanding, we should come together and mutually agree on the issue about the country.”
Speaking, Tambuwal said that Nigeria was currently at a crossroad and required a leader with a strong vision, capable of delivering to all sides of the political divides.
He said, “We are convinced that Nigeria deserves leaders that can unite it. We are aware and very concerned about the current situation of the Nigerian state as it is today, where our unity has been bastardized, and the country is almost, one could say, on the brink. Therefore, all patriotic leaders across party lines are concerned.
“Perhaps only people who are happy with Nigeria today are those who are benefitting from the confusion that is happening at the centre, but the vast majority of our leaders and statesmen are very worried that Nigeria is drifting and drifting very fast.
“Therefore, there is the need for us to come together, first, as a party to unite ourselves and present a candidate for the office of the president. Someone that is competent and will be, by the grace of God, a president of Nigeria and for Nigerians and not a sectional president — not a president from a particular zone.
“Nigeria needs a president that will provide leadership that people will be comfortable with, a president that understands the dynamics of the Nigeria state as at today and all that is at play.”
Tambuwal visited in the company of one of his predecessors and a former presidential aspirant, Alhaji Dalhatu Attahiru Bafarawa; former National Chairman and Board of Trustees of the PDP, Dr Haliru Mohammed Bello; former deputy governor of Sokoto and former Minister of Water Resources, Mukhtar Shehu Shagari; and Zamfara State deputy governor, Mahdi Aliyu Gusau, among others.