Former President Olusegun Obasanjo have argued that the next Nigerian president after the incumbent, Muhammadu Buhari must be a southerner.

Since Buhari is from the north, Obasanjo held that he should be succeeded by a candidate from the south.

Obasanjo spoke when he hosted the leaders of the Mzough U Tiv (MUT) from Benue State in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital over the weekend.

According to a statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said he is in support of rotational presidency, saying power must return to the south in 2023.

He charged Middle Belt leaders to keep advocating for rotational presidency for the country, urging Nigerians not to vote based on emotions that could destroy the nation.

Earlier in his words, the Tiv leader, Iorbee Ihagh, had requested Obasanjo to support a power shift from north to south.

Ihagh said the Mzough u Tiv and the Middle Belt Forum had resolved to support the power shift for fairness, justice and true federalism.

He expressed hope that the Middle Belt would produce the president in 2031.