2007: PDP Chief Lauds Obasanjo Over Zoning
By Olawale Olaleye
Impressed by President Olusegun Obasanjo's recent position on the lingering controversy of the presidency for the 2007 general elections, a chieftain of the party, Chief Longers Anyanwu has commended Obasanjo describing him as a consummate politician.
Anyanwu, who said Obasanjo's position has settled the lingering controversy also said it is now time for the Imo State governor, Chief Achike Udenwa to continue to press on for a President of Igbo extraction, adding that the project would pay off.
According to him, "Obasanjo has become a consummate politician for taking a courageous decision". He, however, warned that Chief Sunday Awoniyi and the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) should desist from arrogating the powers of zoning in the party to themselves.
"Nigerians are not fools", he said, noting that "Obasanjo is right, the PDP position is fair because the six zones in Nigeria is a constitutional reality. South-west will not run but could decide who produces the next president.
"Go to pre-creation of six zones in Nigeria without maintaining the tripod of East and North is simply wishing away Nigeria's cardinal history. No doubt, all the zones are entitled to go for it. But all the cards must be put on the table before the party would take its final position where to zone the presidency", he stated.
The PDP stalwart posited that the North had always been at the fore front of deciding who produces the next president adding that since a Southerner is the incumbent president, he should therefore be allowed to maximise the life-time opportunity of deciding who gets the slot in 2007 elections.
He said the governors of the three dominant groups in the country should make their position clear to the party just as Udenwa and his colleagues from the Eastern part of the country have been doing since the clamour for an Igbo president seized the centre-stage of the nation's body politics.
He however described Udenwa as a genuine Igbo politician whose resolve and conviction for an Igbo president is not tainted with any underlying political tone. He therefore enjoined the governor to intensify efforts, moreso that the stage appears clearer in his campaign for an Igbo president.
"There is no doubt about the fact that Udenwa is genuinely interested in seeing that the Igbo nation produces the next president of this country. He has remained steadfast in this course and should therefore not waver because history will not forget him", he added.
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