2007
Presidency Not Zoned, Says Obasanjo
Rules out South-west zone
By Tokunbo Adedoja
An end to the controversy over which zone will produce the nation's president in 2007 may not be in sight for now as President Olusegun Obasanjo has said that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to decide on which of the six geo-political zones the president will come from.
Fielding questions from a team of editors during the June edition of the Presidential Media Chat aired on the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) network last night, Obasanjo said though PDP has settled for powershift and power rotation, the party has not decided which zone would produce the next president. He, however, ruled out the possibility of the South west again retaining the position since the incumbent's from the zone.
"We have not, as a party, zoned 2007 to any zone or state to the best of my knowledge. Definitely, it will not be to the Southwest. When the time comes, the PDP will put its heads together and decide where the next Presdient will come from", he said.
Though the controversy over which zone should produce the next president in 2007 started shortly after the last general election, it however, gathered momentum in April following the declaration by the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel that PDP has not zoned the position to any of the zones.
His position was countered by a swift reaction from the Kaduna State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, who said the party had, in 1999 resolved that power should go back to the North after the South must have completed its eight-year tenure in 2007.
While the controversy raged, Imo state Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa, who is also the Chairman of the Conference of South-east Governors, declared that as far as the zone was concerned, there are three traditional geo-political zones in the country, namely North, Southwest and Southeast. He argued that the South-east should be allowed to produce the president in 2007.
The South-east governors also maintained that as a matter of fairness, the zone should produce the next Presdient. They argued that their people have been marginalised from the nation's topmost political seat since independence except the six months period in which Major-General Aguiyi Ironsi, spent in office as military head of state.
Udenwa's position was countered by the 19 northern governors who maintained, through their chairman, Governor Ibrahim Goje, that power must shift to the North in 2007. The northern governors argued that an agreement was reached in 1999 and 2003 that power should rotate between South and North. The Northern governors also argued that it was proper in the interest of peace and unity of the country that power must shift to the north in 2007.
Two governors from the South-South zone, Governors Lucky Igbinedion of Edo state and James Ibori of Delta State also added their voices to the raging controversy as they argued that it was indeed agreed that power should shift to the north once the South completes its eight-year term.
Obasanjo during the media chat also spoke on why he delays occasionally before intervening in some conflict situations, saying he allows such conflict to mature so that resolution would not be resisted. Using an analogy of a drowning man to explain his style, the president said when a man is drowning, he should be allowed to gulp a few cups of water before being rescued or else the rescuer may end up drowning with him.
Commenting on the state of the refineries, Obasanjo painted a bleak picture of the situation. He said that his government had spent $450 million on repairs of the refineries and another $250 million on its accessories without any significant result. He added that even if all the refineries were working today, the problem will still persist because of the extent of their vandalisation.
The president said the deregulation of the downstream oil sector was done so as to make the privatisation of the sector to be successful. Nobody amongst those given licences to build refineries would embark on the project if he is not guaranteed of a profitable return on his investment.
Commenting on the rise in the price of oil in the world market, Obasanjo said it is in the interest of oil producing nations that prices stabilise at a reasonable level so that the developed countries who are major consumer of fuel do not seek alternative source of energy.
On the raging controversy between federal and state governments over publication of statutory allocation to states and local government Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala on Obasanjo's prompting, said the purpose of the exercise was to ensure transparency and accountability. She added that her ministry has set-up a web site where all statutory allocations to all federal ministries, presidency and federal parastatals are posted.
On the Labour Bill before the National Assembly, Obasanjo said though the responsibility of Labour is to agitate for the improvement of terms of employment and not to contend with government, the bill was not intended to destroy unionism. He argued that the proposed law was aimed at democratising the Nigerian Labour Congress. He argued that in a democracy, Labour must also be democratic.
The President also responded to questions bordering on why he is fond of cracking jokes. He said this had to do with his background as a villager and his military profession. According to him, "life is so serious and must be spiced up. Obasanjo said one cannot be a good instructor in the military without bringing humour to training. Noting that some of his jokes are true to life, Obasanjo said that though they are not misunderstood, they are misinterpreted by people.
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