Former Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George has warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against playing politics with zoning ahead of the 2023 general election.
He said it was dangerous for the main opposition party not to take cognisance of the existence of a north-south zoning and micro-zoning formula put in place by the founding fathers of the party.
George, who is a former military governor of Ondo State, gave the warning in an interview published by Saturday Sun.
“They are playing politics with zoning. And that is very dangerous. They are dodging the issue, engaging in rigmarole, refusing to come together, close the doors, sit down and discuss it.
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“Zoning is a crucial element in next year’s election and should not be toyed with. It will determine where the presidency goes, given the situation in Nigeria today which the APC caused.
“When we talk about unifying Nigerians again, it should not be by mouth. It should not be by words alone. Our actions and decisions should portray it from the word, go.
“We must call meetings of elders, BOT, (Board of Trustees), NEC (National Executive Committee) etc and resolve it. They are closing it up, dodging it and shouting ‘ Oh, we don’t want zoning anymore,’ as if they have outgrown it.’ It cannot work like that. Zoning system is more important today than before. That is what they don’t understand,” George said.
Asked if it was the party’s elders that were dodging the issue, he said, “Not only the elders. Everybody is dodging it. And that is what is puzzling.
“If the party must remain, we must all come together and decide the way forward on zoning. They are still pussyfooting. They are still sorting out the challenges in every zone left behind by Secondus and his team. They are trying to throw it open, which is also dangerous. They are scheming, trying to blindfold us.”
George said he was left in shock when a former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido said zoning was not necessary now.
“What a crack? Have you forgotten how it started? Have you passed that stage? Or is it because it favours you? The simple thing I always tell them is to go back to history and have the interest of the party at heart. When our founding fathers sat down to put it together, nobody thought there would be another big political party in the near future to necessitate considering any parameter in the equation. Now, it has happened. We need to consider all the variables. Do we discountenance it and say it doesn’t matter? Hausa /Fulani from the deep north will also take over for another eight years? Come on! Does that really make sense?
“It appears to me that our thoughts are not clear enough to understand these things. What will happen to the party after you must have taken a controversial decision to kill a very good idea? The party may break up. Let us not allow personal ambition destroy what good people put together. It is not only in PDP that there is war on zoning. Look at the other political party; they are up in arms with themselves. It is not only the Fualani in the North West clamouring to run, look at the South-West; everyone saying president, president. Where is our sense of justice? So what should others from the other zones do? They should be onlookers and be cheering and clapping? We need to tell ourselves some home truth, save the country and save the party.”
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