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2007 presidency: PDP zoned it to North since 2002� Party top shot
Yusuf Alli
Contrary to the raging controversy over power shift, fresh facts emerged on Friday that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has indeed zoned its 2007 presidential ticket to the North.
But, the party is yet to decide which of the three geo-political zones in the area would get the slot.
Investigations by Sunday Punch showed that the presidential slot was actually conceded to the North as far back as 2002 at an enlarged caucus meeting of the party in Abuja.
A PDP topshot , who made the revelation in confidence during a chat with Sunday Punch, said all the stakeholders in the party agreed to the shift.
�At the enlarged caucus meeting where the President, Vice President and some governors were present, we had a heated debate on where the power should shift to after the two-term tenure of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
�After lengthy discussions, we put the issue into vote and it was 21 votes to one in favour of the North,� he stressed.
The revelation is coming against the background of the recent view of President Olusegun Obasanjo that the contest in still open to the other five geo-political zones except the South-west where he comes from.
Similarly, PDP National Chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, has also said that the party is yet to take a final position on the zone to produce the next president under the party.
However, the top level party source said the PDP had, as a matter of fact, ratify that its next presidential candidate would come from North.
He said: �If you are in doubt, get in touch with the party for the records of the enlarged caucus meeting, which we held in Abuja.
�As far as PDP is concerned, the yardstick for presidency is River Niger. It is either North or South.
�There is no pretence about it. After power shift to the South for eight years, it is politically impossible to retain it in the South again. So, the power would go to the North in 2007,� he maintained.
He further said: �It was at the same meeting where the party prevailed on both the former Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abubakar Rimi and a former Minister of Works, Chief Barnabas Gemade to drop their presidential ambition.
�We mandated a former National Chairman of PDP, Chief Solomon Lar to prevail on Rimi and Gemade to drop their presidential ambition against Obasanjo, but they refused,� he added.
On the agitation by the South-east for the party�s presidential ticket, he said although the feeling of the zone was appreciated, power would shift to the North.
�This time around that we have all agreed that power should shift to the North, we will not allow a reoccurrence of any Southerner obtaining the nomination form. We will not accept any sort of indiscipline again,� he stressed.
Responding to a question, the stalwart said the party was yet to make up its mind on which geo-political zone (in the North) would have the presidential ticket.
�We have not decided whether the presidential slot should go to either the North West, North East or North Central.�
�So far, even if goats emerged with men from the North, we would sit down at the end of the day to choose our flagbearer. All the candidates would go through primaries. 2007 will be tough,� he submitted.
On the role of the incumbent, the source said: �The President would definitely have a say in his successor but in consultation with the party.
�With the on-going reforms by the Federal Government, it would be foolish to say that the president will not be interested in his successor. Even governors, whether those who have performed or looted the treasury, are interested in their successors.�
It was learnt that the recent agitation of the Northern Governors� Forum for a return of power to the North was informed by the 2002 decision of the enlarged Caucus.
The Northern Governors were still meeting in Abuja on Friday as at the time of filing this report.
But, it could not be immediately ascertained if the Governors� Forum�s fresh agitation was informed by a recent pronouncement of President Olusegun Obasanjo.
During a presidential media chat on June 27, Obasanjo said that PDP has not given any zone the presidential ticket.
Sunday Punch, July 25, 2004
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