The crisis rocking the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), may have unsurprisingly caught the most attention as the buildup to the 2023 presidential election intensifies, this however, does not mean all is well with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), either.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum (SMBLF), has in a statement, criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, for downplaying the significance of zoning on the nation's unity.
Both Atiku, Tambuwal, and other political heavyweights in the North, have already expressed interest in running for the presidency, even though the party's National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, is from the North.
In a statement issued by Chief Edwin Clark, Leader; Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Afenifere Leader; Professor George Obiozor, President-General, Ohanaeze Worldwide and Dr. Pogu Bitrus, National President, the Middle Belt Forum noted that zoning has been at the heart of the nation's polity since independence, and is necessary for the sake of unity, fairness and justice in a country as diverse as Nigeria.
The statement said, “It must be noted that zoning had been practised in the Nation’s polity since independence and remains sacrosanct. When Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, in 1960, was the Prime Minister of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was Governor-General.”
The statement added, “The zoning of political offices, particularly the presidency of the country is the best panacea for peace, unity and progress of the country.”
The forum however, expressed disappointment that presidential aspirants from the North out of desperation and selfish interests, are against the zoning arrangement.
It lamented that Atiku’s comments while reportedly addressing some PDP leaders are symptomatic of desperation and somewhat arrogance, adding that his supposition that the APC has a moral obligation to zone the presidency but that the PDP does not, is self-serving and illogical.
It explained that PDP already has a National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu from the North, saying that Senator Ayu would relinquish his position for somebody from the south if someone from the North emerges as the party’s Presidential candidate is preposterous.
It added that Senator Ayu was elected at the party’s convention from the North with the expected consideration that the presidency would go to the South.
The statement observed that the PDP, as a political party had always adhered to the principle of zoning since its formation, stressing that in 1998, the PDP zoned its presidential ticket to the South and the Chairmanship to the North, and Chief Solomon Lar from Plateau State became the pioneer National Chairman of the party.
The statement said the APC has also been religiously following the zoning or rotation system between the north and the south, pointing out that in 2014, the All Progressives Congress, APC, zoned its presidential ticket to the North and the Chairmanship of the party to the South, Chief Bisi Akande emerged as the party’s first interim National Chairman.