…Says zone politically marginalized
…As Ex Zamfara Gov. Sani Yerima rejects zoning
…Insists only party resolution, constitutional amendment can stop him
… N’East shuns APC top NWC offices, positions for VP slot
By Ezeocha Nzeh
As reactions continue tlo trail the recent position of Southern Governors Forum at the end of its meeting in Lagos, Caretaker Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, has declared that it is only the South East and North Central zones that are most qualified to seek a place to produce the President in 2023.
Bello, in a chat with some journalists last week in Abuja noted that the two zones have faced political marginalization in the annals of the country leadership history, stressing that it would be morally wrong for South West or North West to throw their hat into the race for the 2023 Presidency.
It would be recalled that the Southern Governors had in a statement released at their meeting insisted that the South must be allowed to produce the next president after President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, on the spirit of rotation which it noted has been in practice since the country’s return to democracy ion 1999
Defending his position, the Kogi APC chairman who chronicled the past and present leaders of Nigeria and their zones noted that the North West has produced the President twice, in the persons of President Muhammadu Buhari and late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua while the South West has produced the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo since 1999.
He also added that North East had produced a two time Vice President in Atiku Abubakar, adding that the North Central zone would be disposed to the Presidential slot or National Chairman of the ruling party.
The Kogi State APC Caretaker Chairman however admonished leaders of the South East zone to come together and produce a common front if they are desirous to produce a President.
He said, ‘for 2023, those who should be clamouring for the Presidency are the South East and North Central.
“It would amount to serious injustice should South West or North West produce President in 2023.
“However, for the North Central, we are opened for the Presidential ticket or the National Chairman of the APC,” he stated
But in his total rejection of the positions of the Southern Governors and the Kogi APC chairman, former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Sani Yerima, has declared that both the recent resolution by Southern governors and the speculated zoning arrangement in the All Progressives Congress (APC) are illegal and will not stop his ambition to contest for the presidency in 2023 .
The former senator, who spoke to journalist at the weekend in Abuja, argued that the constitution of Nigeria has no place for zoning political offices and permits every Nigerian to contest irrespective of tribe or religion
He however emphasized that as a party man, its only the position of his party that would determine his action, adding that he can only drop is ambition, if the stakeholders and national leadership of his ruling party unanimously agreed to zone the ticket to a particular tribe other than his.
“Yes, I want to confirm to you that by the special grace of God, if I am alive, I, Senator Ahmed Sani, intend to vie for Presidential office.
“Well, I don’t see any body language either as a law or as a document that guides us in politics and in politicking.
“As far as I am concerned, democracy is guided by constitution; by rule of law. It is not personal interest of people, selfish interest of individuals or the projections by other people statements that will guide our democracy. If you look at all other parts of the world, from United States of America that is the leader of democracy of the world, citizens are guided by the document called constitution to aspire for any office.
“The Nigerian Constitution and that of APC as of today, unless there is any amendment in the future, has declared that every Nigerian who is qualified, based on the qualification enshrined in the constitution, should aspire for any office in the land; Governor, State Assembly, National Assembly.
“Therefore, as far as I am concerned, the constitution both party and national, has not barred me from contesting for Presidency. No statement of any group can stop me. But, you see, if tomorrow my party comes up and say we have zoned Presidency to the South, I, Yerima will follow it.
“I will then know that it is a decision, legally and lawful that is binding on all members of the party. But so long as the constitution is still saying citizens of Nigeria and APC Constitution is saying citizens of Nigeria, I am a citizen of Nigeria I am going to contest,” he insisted.
Asked what happens to his ambition concerning his resolution to obey the party’s resolution, he said: “You see, I am a very religious person as a Muslim, I know that power comes from God first and if God destined that I am going to be the President that will not happen.
“I have never left my party. I started with APP (All Peoples Party). We merged and become the All Nigerian Peoples Party and later merged to become All Progressives Congress (APC). So I am a member of APC and I am not in any way thinking of moving from my party to another party. So once there is zoning, I know that my time is off but am sure that God Himself will decide not people.
“You see, we are Nigerians and I believe citizenship is very important. I pray that one day we will become like America, UK, France where citizenship overrides all other considerations; ethnic, religious, tribal. All these things are because we don’t take that citizenship as we are supposed to take it. Every Nigerian citizen should come out with something that he is going to offer to the people, sell himself. This is what I have for education, housing, infrastructural provision and so on, human development and then they will compare and see between Mr. A and B who is supposed to be our President. It’s not regional.
“The constitution is very clear, people are politically illiterate because they don’t read the constitution, even if they read because of personal and selfish interests, they want to acquire power by allocation. It is not done in politics.
“People should be allowed to go and contest, present themselves, offer what they want to offer to the nation and Nigerians will decide and see who is going to be our best President. So is not by allocation, zoning or no zoning that is not an issue. As far as I am concerned, it is democracy and democracy has some principles and practices that have to followed.” Senator Yerima insisted.
This is even as the North East caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has vowed to intensify the zones pursuit for a Vice Presidential slot in 2023
A state APC caretaker chairman from the zone confirm in a chat with The AUTHORITY that he zone has agreed no to contest fpor any key National Working Committee position of the ;party in the forthcoming National Convention
He said, “our zone, North East, is going for Vice President slot. We have able and capable men and women to take this position in 2023.
“No one zone would produce the President or Vice President and the National Chairman of the party, therefore we are settling for Vice President.
“Such zoning of political offices would help to restore peace in the country as it would give people sense of belonging,” stated the North state state APC caretaker chairman who craved for anonymity
Among those who are reportedly positioning themselves for the Vice President’s slot from the North East are: Former governor of Borno State, Senator Kassim Shettima, governor of Borno State, Prof. Zulumu, governor of Yobe State and Chairman APC Caretaker Committee, Mai Mala Buni, Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan (Yobe), and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), (Adamawa) Boss Mustapha.
