Musawa Backs Power Rotation, Says South Should Retain Presidency for Political Balance
Hannatu Musawa says presidency should remain in Southern Nigeria to preserve political balance.
Minister stresses zoning is still necessary, as ethnic divisions hinder merit-based leadership choices.
The Minister of Art, Culture, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has advocated for the presidency to remain in Southern Nigeria for the next four to six years to promote national inclusivity and political balance.
Speaking during a live interview on Channels Television on Friday, Musawa explained that zoning remains necessary in Nigeria’s political landscape due to ongoing ethnic divisions that hinder a unified national identity.
“I believe zoning is still relevant because, as a country, we have yet to move beyond the constraints of ethnicity,” she said. “We still don’t see ourselves first as Nigerians.”
Reflecting on the current political cycle, Musawa stressed that after former President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure in office a period led by a Northern presidency it was fair for power to shift to the Southern region.
“After eight years of President Buhari from the North, it was only right for power to move to the South. And I think, given where we are now, the presidency should remain in the South for at least the next four to six years,” she said.
While expressing hope for a future where leaders are chosen based on merit and capacity rather than geography, she acknowledged that Nigeria has not yet reached that level of political maturity.
“Hopefully one day, we’ll get to a point where leaders are selected purely for their competence and what they offer,” she added. “But since we’re not quite there yet, maintaining power in the South for now helps ensure political stability.”
Musawa also highlighted her efforts to promote national unity through the arts. She mentioned her poem titled ‘I Am a Nigerian’, which she said was written to inspire a sense of collective identity among citizens. The piece, she added, will soon be rebroadcast on national platforms as part of her ministry’s cultural initiatives.
