By Adadareporters
The call by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar for the zoning of the nation’s presidency to the North in 2027 lacks merit because the Turakin Adamawa does not abide by political agreements.
The secretary to the New Nigeria Peoples Party in Enugu State, Aliyu Adamu Kwankwaso, stated this while reacting to Atiku’s call for the zoning of the 2027 presidency to the North on the basis that the southern part has had more shots to the presidency than North in the country’s civilian dispensation.
According to Aliyu, “Does Atiku abide by the statement he made? Zoning has to do with equity, justice and to make every part of the country feel a part of Nigeria. But zoning in Nigeria is all about interest. When the interest does not favour one side, such calls begin to come in. Atiku contested in 2007, 2011, 2019, and 2023. When then did he observe any of such arrangements if he continues to contest in all the elections? What does a zone that produces the president gain? Despite the clamour for Buhari in the North, a majority preferred Jonathan and Obasanjo’s regimes at last.
“I think we better go back to regionalism to have a weaker centre. Otherwise, let’s Nigerians be allowed to vote for who they want. I still ask: is South East not part of the South? Why have they not been allowed to produce a president? Let’s look at competence and not zoning any longer.”
Kwankwaso attributed the dearth of opposition in Nigeria to the gimmicks of the ruling All Progressives Congress, noting, “That is why most political parties have one problem or the other. You can see a sitting minister of the federal republic in APC and controlling the PDP. We still don’t know who the leader of Labour Party is. APC has hands in it. They own the judiciary. Our problem is coming from the judiciary. If you resist, they threaten you with government agencies. Politicians have succeeded in dividing Nigerians among religiouns and tribes.”
