Former governor and serving senator, Ibrahim Shekarau, has said the lack of written agreement on zoning in the All Progressives Congress (APC), should not stop the party from using common sense in determining who will represent the party in the next presidential election.
The lawmaker who is representing Kano Central Senatorial District, made the statement during an interactive session with journalists in Kano State on Sunday.
He said; “I want to tell you that there is no place in the APC constitution that the issue of zoning is mentioned. I think it is only considered by the Peoples Democratic Party.
“For me, I believe in the principle of balance equation and common sense (sic). Although there is no place in our party where zoning is allowed unlike in the PDP where the zoning system is constitutional; ideally, common sense should have guided APC in its selection.
“And those who want to kill themselves that one particular region should continue to maintain power should know that that will not make them better than other regions. For instance, in the last eight years, the North has been in power, are we better than other parts of the country? The answer is no.”
Shekarau had previously advocated for what he described as a "constitution of common sense" during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.
Responding on the growing call for a South-East presidency in 2023, Shekarau said, “I don’t call it zoning, I would rather call it some balancing. There has to be some sense of belonging. There is what I call the constitution of common sense.
“The Constitution of Nigeria or the constitution of any of the political parties didn’t say if I am from the North, my running mate must be from the South. It is not written but if today, I am a presidential candidate from Kano and I tell you my running mate is from Bauchi, you will say something is wrong with me.
“The presidency has just been from the North for eight years. Common sense tells that we should look the other side, to the Southern part of Nigeria. We should recognize the North and the South, this is elementary geography and history.
“Perception is what you have to carry along. If you continue to dominate on one particular side, the perception from the other side is, ‘What about me?’”
He added saying, “There is common sense expectation of balancing and giving everybody a sense of belonging and fairness.” reliable and competent hands should be entrusted with the responsibility of leading Nigeria in 2023.