S/West 'll dictate direction in 2011 -OBJ
Written by Taiwo Adisa and Dare Adekanmbi
Monday, June 7, 2010

FORMER president of Nigeria and chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo , on Sunday, said the South-West geopolitical zone would dictate national direction in next year's presidential election.






advertisement

Obasanjo made the remarks at the civic reception organised for Senator Jubril Martins-Kuye, at Abusi Edumare Academy, Ijebu-Igbo, Ogun State, on his recent appointment as the Minister of Commerce and Industry.

According to the former president, "the South-West has always given the national political direction and this will not change. The PDP in the zone will sit down, brainstorm and come out with a position in respect of a presidential candidate in 2011. And when the time comes, I know you will follow your leaders. They have never dictated a wrong direction for you."

While acknowledging that the party had crises to resolve at the zonal and the national levels, he expressed the optimism that they would be overcome and the party would come out strong and formidable.

In his own speech at the event, former governor of Oyo State, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, said the PDP should give President Goodluck Jonathan the ticket to run in 2011, adding that the zoning arrangement in the PDP's constitution was not in consonance with the country's constitution.

The PDP chieftain stressed that what is good for the party might not be good for the nation, urging members to allow President Jonathan continue to rule the nation beyond 2011.

Said Olunloyo: "Our party, PDP, has a rule in its constitution, but which is not in the country's constitution. What is good for the PDP may not be good for the country. Our party will take a decision that will not jeopardise the interest of the nation."

"Jonathan is not using Yar'Adua's ticket. It is his (Jonathan's). He was deputy governor in Bayelsa and later governor, vice-president, acting and now president. The PDP should allow him to continue in office.

"Chieftains of the party should ensure that what PDP is made to tailor its steps towards the good of the country and not the wish of the party.

"There is a big problem before the PDP and by extension, Nigeria. Only elders and chieftains of the party like Chief Obasanjo and others can help us tackle the problem. The country must not be allowed to drift to precipice."

Corroborating Olunloyo, Senator Lekan Mustapha added his voice for the discarding of the zoning formula as he declared that what the party had in 1999 was not zoning but power shift arrangement.

The Ogun-East senator explained that then, power shift policy was adopted as a child of necessity in the face of the prevailing political circumstances in the country at that time.

"Power shifted to the South-West then, when Chief Obasanjo became president. Now, any of the zones is entitled to take a shot at the presidency," he said.

Meanwhile, Bauchi State governor and son-in-law to the late President Umaru Yar'Adua, Mallam Isa Yuguda, declared at the weekend that zoning arrangement for elective positions is unconstitutional, just as he added that only God makes leaders.

The governor, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, said that though politicians often referred to a gentleman's agreement, the constitution does not recognise such an agreement.

"As I said, God has already made His own leader and the constitution has provided for people to contest election. The constitution has not provided for zoning and if there is a gentleman's agreement in parties where zoning is agreed, it's not constitutional as far as I'm concerned and if they want to adhere to it, so be it.

"But I believe that leadership is from the Almighty, zoning or no zoning. Supposing I have not defected to the PDP, you will not ask me that question because ANPP has no issue of zoning.

http://odili.net/news/source/2010/jun/7/607.html

The Yoruba peril is here, bring me my AK

After he ruled 4 eight 8 years plus additional 4 years Yaradua/Jonathan regime without any achievement. God will save us from this evil.

gogo123:

The Yoruba peril is here, bring me my AK

LWKMD

yorubas have entered gau ie trouble.

no leader again.

make everybody operate at im village level.

What?

OBJ has lost his mind!

Shall we Igbos join the North again to thwart the Yoruba?

EzeUche:



What?

OBJ has lost his mind!

Shall we Igbos join the North again to thwart the Yoruba?

Because of OBJ, u want to join the North, are you making any sense?

yemmight:

Because of OBJ, u want to join the North, are you making any sense?

LWKMD

OBJ is speaking for himself not the yorubas. We don't even like him in Yourba land he's always been a basta[i]r[/i]d

u r rit bro basterd is an understatement is a confirmed animal