Afegbua To Atiku: Nigeria’s Constitution Is Very Clear On Zoning

By Ayodele Oni

Embattled chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) in Edo state, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has reacted to claims by former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, that zoning the Presidency is unconstitutional.

The Benin Prince maintained that zoning public offices, including the Presidency, is a constitutional requirement in Nigeria, contrary to counter claims made by some aspirants.

In a statement on Sunday, Afegbua pointed out that “Nigeria’s long upheld federal character principle, which is codified in its 1999 constitution and expressly recommends the political balancing of positions and appointments across the regions that make up the country, is the same as zoning.

“For selfish and egocentric reasons, I have read some aspirants talking about the absence of zoning in the Nigeria Constitution.

“In order to serve their selfish end and contest the 2023 presidential election against the run of play, they have resorted to making references to the 1999 constitution to support their weak argument against the zoning of political offices.

“It must be stated unequivocally that zoning means the same thing as Federal Character, which is expressly captured in the 1999 constitution.

“The federal character talks about the political balancing of positions and appointments, which is the same thing as zoning.

“Zoning means ‘divide into or assign to zones,’ positions and appointments whether by way of election or appointment.”

He reminded those Presidential aspirants that are not from the South to bury the dream as it will spell doom for PDP during next year’s election.

Afegbua had earlier advised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, against recontesting this time, describing, also, the aspiration by Alhaji Sule Lamido to be president in 2023 as dead on arrival.

“This is why a Sule Lamido, who benefited from zoning in 2019 by participating in the contest is trying to twist the logic and confuse the process by his recent declaration.

“Every Geopolitical zone has qualified Nigerians who are competent to assume Presidential office.

“In fact, with President Buhari’s dismal performance, using perceived competence to measure a would-be candidate or president, may no longer be apposite.

“President Buhari has lowered the bar of qualification to preside over Nigeria.

“Sule Lamido ought to be an advocate of justice, fairness and equity, being a man reputed for speaking out his mind, but his latest armtwisting approach would not augur well for the party.

“This is a rare opportunity for the PDP to right the wrongs and show leadership by example by insisting that the zoning formula or approach is well cultivated.

“You cannot have power reside in one zone of the country for 16 unbroken years in a country of diverse socio-political configurations and religious secularity.

“The right thing to do, given our plural status, is to give sense of belonging to all the nation-states within the nation to build cohesion and unity.”