Singer Brymo has thrown fresh fuel into Nigeria’s sensitive zoning debate, saying the country is due to consider an Igbo presidency while also warning that rising insecurity in the South-East could complicate the path forward.
The musician, Olawale Olofooro, made the comments during a recent interview on Yanga FM Lagos, where he called for national reconciliation and urged Nigerians to “let go of the past” tied to political grievances.
His remarks come with baggage. During the 2023 election cycle, Brymo faced heavy backlash over earlier statements seen as opposed to an Igbo presidency, making his latest position a noticeable shift in tone.
This time, he insisted that leadership rotation should not be endlessly delayed, arguing that fairness requires open consideration of an Igbo candidate for the presidency. However, he warned that ongoing insecurity in parts of the South-East could influence political outcomes if left unresolved.
Brymo also made broader claims about insecurity being used as a political bargaining tool in different regions, suggesting that instability often escalates around election periods.
He said, “I think it is high time for Igbo presidency. It is time for Nigeria to start considering Igbo presidency. Let’s let go of the past and reconcile our differences and unite as a nation.”
But he quickly tied that argument to security concerns, adding that instability in the South-East could undermine such a political transition if not addressed.
According to him, “Anytime any group in Nigeria wants presidency, they will start militancy. That is what is going on. If you want presidency, start kidnapping and insecurity.”
One of the most controversial parts of his interview was his praise for President Bola Tinubu, particularly over the handling of the South-West security initiative, Amotekun. Brymo claimed Tinubu prevented the outfit from becoming something more politically radical in nature.
He added, “One of the reasons I like President Bola Tinubu is because he stopped Amotekun from taking off. He didn’t support it.”
His final point widened the argument into a national security warning, suggesting that multiple regional armed or militant movements could destabilise the country if left unchecked.
While Brymo is not a policymaker, his comments tap into a recurring tension in Nigeria’s politics: zoning, insecurity, and trust between regions. His statements are likely to reignite debate, especially around equity in presidential rotation and the role of regional security structures.
Still, the core contradiction in his argument is hard to ignore: he calls for inclusion while framing the same region he supports as a potential risk factor. That tension is exactly where public criticism of his remarks is likely to land.
