Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has faulted the call on the Peoples Democratic Party to zone its presidential ticket to a particular region of the country, adding that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria does not recognise it.

This is as he expressed optimism that the PDP would adopt the indirect primary, which he said was not only the most efficient and least expensive but also allowed the politically enlightened members of the party to make important decisions for the party.

Atiku, who spoke at a meeting with members of a group, Let’s Fix Nigeria with Atiku, on a solidarity visit at his residence in Abuja, said any Nigerian endowed with the right attributes could lead the country, as against the call for a younger president, and urged Nigerians to look for such a person and give him leadership.

Similarly, the leader of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, who was present at the meeting said, there was no doubt whatsoever that Atiku had the capacity, ability, the will to unite the country as he had been tested and proven.

It would recalled that the Southern and Middle Belt Forum, comprising the Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere; the pan-Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo; and the Middle Belt Forum, had called all political parties to zone their presidential ticket to the South as the regions would not vote for a northern presidential candidate in 2023.

But speaking on Thursday, Atiku, who is one of the prominent northern politicians interested in contesting the 2023 presidential election, said, “Fundamentally, the Constitution says all of us can run. The Constitution has not barred any one of us. There is no zoning in the Constitution; there is none. I was a member of the constituent assembly that drafted the current Constitution and there was nothing like that.

However, the Waziri Adamawa, who recalled how he bought the idea of zoning in the PDP during a discussion with a former vice president, the late Dr Alex Ekwueme, assured that he would adopt measures that would unify and stabilise Nigeria if elected.

“But then, as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, we felt that there should be a sense of belonging. We went and invented this zoning.

“Therefore, we went further to say there should be zonal representation. So, let me assure you that as far as I am concerned, I will observe and implement whatever will bring about the peace and stability of this country.

“Leadership is endowed by God. You can have a young man come and do better than an old man. So, it is an endowed attribute from God, therefore, we should try to look for such a person who has been endowed by God, who has those attributes and then give him leadership.

The former vice president lamented that Nigeria was more divided now than it was during the Civil War, while insecurity and poverty had become prevalent in the country.

“I have never seen; this country have so many challenges at the same time. So, sometimes, when I am on my bed, I begin to wonder whether to go for it (contest) or not because the challenges are just too many. In my life, I have never seen Nigeria in such a bad situation.

“As far as the unity of this country is concerned, we are more divided. Even when we fought the Civil War, we were never as divided as this. We never have a breakdown of law and order like this because when we fought the Civil War, it was confined to a particular location, in every other place, there was peace.

“We never had this kind of poverty where even the farmer cannot go to farm the food to eat, not to talk of commercial farming. So, I have never seen this country so bad, and it is going to be a daunting task for anybody to come and turn things around.”

sweetshisha:
Fulani knows this but wanted to use zoning agreement to stop Jonathan in 2014, he also hoodwinked brain dead PDP with zoning to get 2019 ticket

Well this is why am proud of Tinubu's mandate and APC... Atleast in APC only southerners get to drag the ticket as agreed like a responsible party

ToughGuy111:
If Nigerian leaders were people who had good vision and sense of purpose, I don't think some people would have been crying of zoning or not zoning.In America nothing like Zoning, Christian or Muslim and yet they hold a free and fair election.Look at this man, he favoured zoning in 2019 but he suddenly change that nothing like zoning in the Constitution(this is towards 2023).Does it mean that there was no Constitution in 2019? All this is to enrich oneself.The question is, if he gets to the position as he so desires, will he act and carry out his duties in line with the constitution?

ToughGuy111:
If Nigerian leaders were people who had good vision and sense of purpose, I don't think some people would have been crying of zoning or not zoning.In America nothing like Zoning, Christian or Muslim and yet they hold a free and fair election.Look at this man, he favoured zoning in 2019 but he suddenly change that nothing like zoning in the Constitution(this is towards 2023).Does it mean that there was no Constitution in 2019? All this is to enrich oneself.The question is, if he gets to the position as he so desires, will he act and carry out his duties in line with the constitution?

ruggedtimi:
a muslim man cannot rule america.

ToughGuy111:
It's not in there Law.

ruggedtimi:
oya na make Muslim man go contest...even Ghana here a Muslim will find it difficult to become president.