The group’s convener Professor Ango Abdullahi stated this on Wednesday at the the occasion of the Northern Elders General Assembly in Abuja.
He claimed that former president Olusegun Obasanjo was able to attain the presidency because of the votes from the north.
Abdullahi went on to state that the region had also played a major role in delivering the presidency to Moshood Abiola.
He insisted that northerners would no longer sit back and help other region in attaining the presidency, instead they would take it for themselves.
He said, “The North has paid its dues, if there is any part of this country that has made sacrifices for the unity of this nation, there is no other section of the country that has contributed as much as Northern Nigeria.
“The issue shouldn’t have been that we are not qualified or have no right to contest, and certainly, this is why we are saying now that the issue in Nigeria political space must be based only on democratic tenets.
“The constitution is very clear that I can contest 20 times and also lose 20 times, but nothing should stop me from contesting elections, but in terms of ‘do me I do you’, rub my back and I rub yours, the North has rubbed more backs than its being rubbed.
“Obasanjo couldn’t get 10,000 votes in front of his house, I told the newsmen that always spoke to him rudely that he will become Nigeria president with the Northern votes and he did, we got paid back somehow, it was not appreciated as such. The North voted Abiola to defeat Tofa, in my sitting room. All these are sacrifices being made by northerners.
“Talking about the years in power since 1999 till date, Obasanjo ruled for 8 years, Jonathan ruled for 6 years which is 14 years, Ya’ardua did just 2 years while Buhari is doing 8 which is 10 years.”
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