ABUJA—ANAMBRA State Governor, Dr. Chris Ngige yesterday affirmed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) conceived the principle of rotation at its formation in 1998 even as he criticized the zoning principle as capable of enthroning wrong leaders.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the consultative meeting of PDP Southeast leaders, Governor Ngige also said he was looking forward to the first anniversary of the July 10 abduction saga with joy, saying that the incident has led to positive developments for the State.According to him, the abduction scare had become a blessing in disguise for him as he proclaimed the incident as a watershed in the history of the State.
On the issue of zoning the 2007 presidency, Dr. Ngige said: “For me, PDP had a zoning formula in 1998 after the formation of this party.
The executive meeting where the late Chuba Okadigbo propounded the theory of rotation is still very clear to me in my mind. It gave a theory that talked about development without rotation and development with rotation, he likened it to a situation as a vehicle standing still.Everybody agreed that the movement of the wheels will have progress and that is how rotation and zoning came about in 1998,” he revealed. He, nevertheless confessed that even though he had been told by some of his fellow governors that there was an agreement that the presidency should be zoned to the North in 2007, he said that he was not a party to the decision having not attended the NEC meeting that reportedly took the decision.
He, however, criticized zoning as primordial and unhelpful in enthroning good leadership. “Discussion of zoning is primordial, a pedestrian sentiment and I don’t want to be associated with people who talk about zoning or no zoning because I like excellence,” Dr. Ngige said.
“So for me, let the best man come out, if the man likes let him come from Ogun State, if he is wonderful and good and will transform Nigeria into another Malaysia or Singapore, so be it.”
Reflecting on the July 10, 2003 reported abduction, Governor Ngige said: ”July 10 is a watershed in the history of Anambra State. It is an event that has brought out the best out of our people, our government and everything that is Anambra. July 10 has propelled the government and the people on the path of development. I can tell you that we have made phenomenal progress, tremendous progress in Anambra State both politically, economically and otherwise. So, July 10 to me is a blessing in disguise.”
