Former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party and a founding member of the All Progressives Congress, Mr. Audu Ogbeh has said that Nigeria’s democratic system cannot function without zoning policy because certain section of the country must always be catered for.
In an Interview with Sunday Punch, he said “This whole business of no zoning is a political fallacy that can’t work in Nigeria. The democratic system of Nigeria as it is today cannot function without certain sensitivity to the interests of sections of the society.
“We are Africans; we are very sentimental people and highly emotional. That’s what we are. Even in more advanced democracies, when John Kennedy was President of the US, he came from Massachusetts, his Vice President, Lyndon Johnson came from Texas, Richard Nixon came from California, his Vice President came from North Carolina, Barack Obama comes from Chicago Illinois or is it the Island of Hawaii, where did he pick Joe Biden from? The East Coast.
“One can go on and on. They have this sensitivity, they may not say so but there is the need to move this thing around a bit. It’s always happening. When it suits us, we say zoning is nonsense, let’s get the best. Is it true? You have to zone.
“Are you going to have a President in Nigeria some day from the South-West, Vice President South-West, Senate President South West and Nigerians will accept it? Or the North brings President, Vice President, Speaker, Majority Leader and people will accept it? You can’t do that. Or the East produces President, Vice President…? It’s not feasible. The point is that something got a little weak within the party structure that allowed this situation to come about and we should learn from it.”
Ogbeh also explained that President Muhammadu Buhari is searching for people who can deliver, that is why he hasn’t sent the Cabinet List to the National Assembly
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