Daily Independent Online.
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Wednesday, June 30, 2004.
ACF in a fix over 2007 presidency
By Sukuji Bakoji
Bureau
Chief, Kaduna
Agitation by the North
for power shift to the region in the 2007 Presidential polls has suffered a
major setback, following the declaration by President Olusegun Obasanjo that
the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is yet to decide on which of the six
geo-political zones will produce the man or woman to succeed him.
Fielding questions from
editors during the June edition of the monthly Presidential chat at the
weekend, the President stated that though the ruling party has settled for
power shift, or rotational Presidency, it has not yet agreed on which zone will
have the next slot.
The statement has
jolted prominent PDP members angling for the 2007 Presidential ticket and has
left the entire North in a quandary, not knowing the next line of action.
Against this backdrop,
PDP National Vice Chairman (North West), Bello Halilu Mohammed, has said that
the three zones in the North will meet to devise ways to tackle the matter,
asserting that “equity and fair play” must prevail in the scheme of
things.
In an interview on
Tuesday, he said Obasanjo’s statement should not be allowed to dampen the
spirit of Northerners in their quest for power in 2007.
According to him, the
zoning formula was adopted by the party because of the level of mistrust among
Nigerians.
Said he: “I was
elected only last Saturday. Before now I was not part of the decision. I have
now been part and parcel of the decision. All I know is that equity and justice
will definitely inform where the Presidency in 2007 will be zoned”.
However, a
Kaduna-based human rights and pro-democracy activist, Shehu Sani, applauded
Obasanjo for not involving himself in the controversy on power rotation. He
insisted that the North had bungled its opportunities in the past and wondered
why the agitation.
According to him, the
North had the ample opportunity to lead the country before now, but the
“woeful performances of leaders from that region have scuttled future
opportunities”.
PDP National Working
Committee (NWC) met in Abuja on Tuesday, apparently to discuss issues relating
to the power shift.
Its Secretary General
Vincent Ogbulafor had confirmed on Monday that the party leadership was likely
to deliberate on the issue.
However, sources close
to the meeting said at press time that the NWC only dwelt on the emergency rule
in Plateau State.
The meeting continues
today.
