Atiku’s remarks on Igbo, Yoruba capable of dividing Nigeria — Kingsley Moghalu

A former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Prof. Kingsley Moghalu, has expressed disappointment over a comment by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar that Northers don’t need Igbo or Yoruba to be president.

Atiku had on Saturday during an interactive sanction With Arewa Joint Committee held in Kaduna State, claimed that Northerners do not need Igboor Yoruba presidency in the forthcoming election.

Atiku’s shocking utterance has been generating reactions from concerned Nigerians across the country.

Reacting on his verified Twitter handle, the former CBN Deputy Governor said the comment was a “direct appeal to divisive ethnic sentiment and a denigration of the largest ethnic groups in Southern Nigeria.

“I was very disappointed to view the video clip of H.E. Atiku Abubakar @atiku, a former Vice-President of Nigeria, telling an audience in Kaduna that what the North needs is a northerner to be President, and not a Yoruba or Igbo candidate.

“All candidates in the 2023 presidential election must avoid ethnic or other divisive sentimental appeals”.

He called on Atiku to withdraw the statement and tender apology to Nigerians who picked offence in his utterances.