Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State governor Nasir El-Rufai, has called for Nigeria to produce a president of Igbo extraction, reigniting debate over power rotation and regional inclusion in the country’s politics.
In remarks that have drawn attention across Nigeria’s political landscape, Bashir argued that it is time for the Igbo ethnic group—predominantly from the country’s southeast—to occupy the nation’s highest office, citing the need for fairness and national cohesion.
Nigeria’s presidency has long been shaped by an informal power-sharing arrangement between regions, aimed at maintaining balance in the multi-ethnic nation. However, the absence of an Igbo president since the end of the civil war continues to fuel calls for greater political inclusion.
While Bashir’s comments do not represent an official government position, they have amplified ongoing conversations around equity, zoning, and the future of leadership in Africa’s most populous country.
The statement is expected to further stir political reactions as stakeholders weigh in on the implications for upcoming elections and the broader question of national unity.
