2011: Don’t truncate PDP zoning formula –Nwobodo
01 May, 2010 02:17:00 MUHAMMAD KABIR, Kano
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Former governor of old Anambra state, Chief Jim Nwobodo has warned that any attempt to scuttle the zoning formula in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will only cause tension and uncertainty in the nation’s polity.

Also, Chief Nwobodo decried the actions of certain people in the party who are hell-bent on removing from office the party’s national chairman, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor, insisting that even his removal will hardly solve the chains of problems affecting the party.

Answering questions from journalists in Kano when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi, who was also his bosom friend, Chief Nwobodo said for peace and tranquility to reign in the country, there was need to continue with the existing zoning formula in the PDP.

He added that anyone trying to go against it will just end up creating tension, unnecessary bad blood and uncertainty in the country.

Emphasizing that though the zoning method is a PDP affair, Chief Nwobodo explained that it did not mean that other Nigerians have no right to contest every office of their choice.

For kicking against the zoning method, Rimi was strongly condemned, Chief Nwobodo said, explaining that because Rimi was a peace loving man, he at a time, accepted his fate and allowed peace to reign.

"Therefore, truncating this arrangement is a great disservice to Nigerians because it will only cause uncertainty among them," he cautioned.

He recalled that in 1999, despite the fact that PDP zoned the presidency to the south, the late Rimi still went ahead to contest, thereby rejecting the zoning formula, adding that his contesting in the election did not bear any fruit because "we forced him out of the contest; and I could remember that was when I had a disagreement with my bosom friend."

The arrangement was strictly followed, leading to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s victory for his second tenure in office, according to Chief Nwobodo, who quickly added, "therefore any attempt to truncate this arrangement will be tantamount to causing disaffection in the nation’s polity and it will not go down well with everybody."

He said: "For peace and love to continue to exist, I want the zoning exercise to remain, and about the other parties; anybody who wants to contest should do that."

On Ogbulafor, who some groups in the party are calling for his head, Chief Nwobodo said, though the party’s national chairman has been rejected by some people, he is not solely responsible for the image problem the party is having now. He noted that dialogue, rather than removal of Ogbulafor, will resolve the problem so that "the party can forge ahead."

On the other hand, shedding tears openly at the residence of Rimi, Chief Nwobodo remembered how they operated their progressive ideologies, emphasizing that "for only I was not in the country when Rimi died, I would have been the chief host of his sympathizers because this is not only a friend but a family member who so much cared for me." He added: "We have all lost a rare gem whose attitudes and concern was all for the talakas."

He, however, rejected the notion that Rimi’s death has brought about the complete demise of the progressive ideology, insisting that all other progressive elements that were actively in the quest for having a "just government, have been spread in other political parties and I want to believe that their ideologies are still intact."

Nwobodo makes another politically sane contribution in this Obasanjo-induced imbroglio.

Honestly, this zoning thing might make sense but I rather we break up. If elections are free and fair, the candidate that has tribal/religious affiliation with more people would win. That candidate would not necessarily be the best candidate. When this happens with three presidents, we would cry that "our people never get a chance". Nigerians are not educated enough and too ethnocentric to vote for the best regardless of where HE comes from.
We really have to break up or hope in 20 years, our people would be less ethnocentric and more enlightened.

I have always said it break the f%%king country up.

Breaking up is an attractive option. But before then, power must rotate to all the zones. This is commonsensical in an ethnically-polarized country such as ours.

mekusxxx:

Breaking up is an attractive option. But before then, power must rotate to all the zones. This is commonsensical in an ethnically-polarized country such as ours.

But doesn't zoning hinder progress? Ex, last year, we had a Yoruba president. This year PDP has to nominate a Hausa president because of zoning. What if there is a yoruba guy in PDP that we all know is a way better candidate. We won't give him a chance to better Nigeria because a Nigerian was in power last term? That's almost ignorant. Nigeria = Catch 22.

Don't say he should switch parties because Nigeria is essentially a 1 party democracy.

Jumobi:

There are good candidates in all regions of Nigeria. No group, how much less Yoruba (using your example) can arrogate anything to itself. So rotate the shit or risk a break up.

Ah, this Chief Jim Nwobodo dude is Ibo too, right? No surprise there! The morons!!!

even with the zoning formula , my community is still being marginalized! i strongly think the zoning should go round all LGAs with only a single term per person.

This sounds like whining. . . . Even Minority tribes arent whining this much. This is incredibly crazy . . . .

and a defeatist attitude at best. I cant believe how some igbos think its a shame. Ijaws people dont even have this mentality all they want is federalism. this is alarming and funny at d same time

The presidency isnt even SHIOT . An Hausa can be president time and time again who f***n cares, as long as theres federalism that we can develop ourselves it shouldnt be that serious.

If every citizen thought like you idiots then there would be over abillion countries in the world. People wouldnt migrate to US or UK. ahah As if  having a president from your ethnicity is life or death wtf Go and ask Jews in America if they had a president! What of Mexican?! Even black sef just get president.

whichever way they want to take it, zoning whatever, this nation has waited long enough for a credible leader that would make a change

A view of another thief to appease his thieving compatriots.If nigeria is really a country,why the zoning?

Hmmmmmmm. Nwobodo still dey? I don almost forget the guy completely.

sjeezy8:

This sounds like whining. . . . Even Minority tribes arent whining this much. This is incredibly crazy . . . .

and a defeatist attitude at best. I cant believe how some igbos think its a shame. Ijaws people dont even have this mentality all they want is federalism. this is alarming and funny at d same time

The presidency isnt even SHIOT . An Hausa can be president time and time again who f***n cares, as long as theres federalism that we can develop ourselves it shouldnt be that serious.

If every citizen thought like you idiots then there would be over abillion countries in the world. People wouldnt migrate to US or UK. ahah As if  having a president from your ethnicity is life or death wtf Go and ask Jews in America if they had a president! What of Mexican?! Even black sef just get president.

Always talking trash.