The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has issued a stern warning to those trying to do away with the zoning of the presidency in the country, saying any attempt to end zoning, as being insinuated in some northern quarters, would spell the end for Nigeria.
The leaders condemned a statement credited to the chairman of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Alhaji Ango Abdullahi, that rotation of the presidency between the north and south was “dead and buried”. They declared that another eight years of northern presidency, after President Muhammadu Buhari, was unacceptable.
The position of the leaders was contained in a joint statement yesterday by National Leader, Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and Chairman, SMBLF, Chief Edwin Clark; leader of Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo; President-General, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Professor George Obiozor; and National President, Middle Belt Forum, Pogu Bitrus. They said they were prepared for those attempting to upturn a practice – zoning – that had sustained the country.
The group warned that any attempt to kill and bury the age-long power rotation agreement between the north and south was tantamount to an attempt to kill and bury Nigeria.
SMBLF warned that the move to tinker with the rotation of the presidency was inimical to national unity.
The Southern and Middle Belt leaders also warned Abdullahi’s NEF, and wondered if the northern body was now out to dissolve the country.
The statement said, “SMBLF says it is rather unfortunate and absurd that Ango Abdullahi and his Northern Elders Forum would make such twaddle. Are they now ready to dissolve the country? What has happened that zoning, which has been a sine qua non in the nation’s political progression, has now become a ‘dead and buried’ issue, in the irrational contemplations of Ango Abdullahi and his co-travellers?
“Could it be due to the incapacity, insipidity and disastrous performance of the Buhari administration or the narcissistic desire to perpetuate Hausa/Fulani hegemony? It has become necessary to underscore that Ango Abdullahi, with his established disposition of inconsistency and duplicity, is one of the people disturbing the polity and peace of Nigeria.
“A few days ago, this same Ango fumbled with the idea of a so-called consensus arrangement for northern presidential aspirants, he has not come out of it. Now he has sprung up with this reckless statement that zoning is dead and buried. Ango and his northern elders do not have the power to kill and bury zoning. If they want to kill and bury Nigeria, then we are ready for them.”
The elder statesmen stated that the “history of zoning between the north and the south is well-known to everybody in this country and has been respected by all the major political parties in Nigeria.” They recalled that all the ruling political parties from the Second Republic, such as the now defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN) and the current opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had adhered to the principle of zoning.
The elders also accused the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Adamu Abdullahi, of outright dishonesty and chicanery for saying APC had not decided the zoning of the presidency.
According to SMBLF, “More so, earlier this year, the nation and global audience were told by Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State on a national/satellite television station, Channels Television, that zoning of the party and political elective offices exists in the APC.
“The governor further hinted that all the positions earlier held by the north would be swapped with the south and vice versa. And this was inclusive of the presidency. That was the reason why only northerners vied for the national chairmanship of the party, which was zoned to the north and micro-zoned to the North-central, during the party’s national convention in March this year.
“Sadly, we are now being told by the newly ‘imposed’ national chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, that the APC has not decided on the zoning of the presidency. Such a statement at this stage, with about 30 days to the presidential primaries, amounts to outright dishonesty and chicanery. Who are they trying to deceive and who will allow them?
“It becomes even more upsetting given the fact that the statement came from someone who himself emerged as National Chairman of the APC through the policy of rotation and zoning.”
The southern leaders added, “It is haughty for anybody to say that this is the time to consider the quality of candidates. Where in Nigeria is deficient in quality candidates? Is it the south or the north? Everyone of the individuals from the south, who has indicated interest to contest for the presidency, both in APC and in PDP, is qualified to be President of Nigeria.
“They should stop their trickery. Enough is enough! We cannot have a northerner president for eight years and then welcome another northern president for another eight years or more. That is unacceptable to us. We, therefore, strongly caution all our governors, former governors, and top politicians not to accept the vice presidency nomination from any northern presidential candidate.
“We urge the 17 southern governors, who unanimously declared that the presidency must come to the south in May last year, at Asaba, Delta State, to remain resolute. They have our absolute support for the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders’ Forum and we stand firmly by them. This country belongs to all of us!
“Let everybody take this as a serious warning that the issue of zoning cannot be swept under the carpet; it cannot be dead and buried, if zoning is buried, Nigeria is, then, buried. And if they are thinking that this is a joke, let it be known that it is not. If we cannot abide by the established principle of rotation and zoning between the north and the south, then we should not continue with one Nigeria; we should go back to what we were as a people before the amalgamation of 1914.
“We also earnestly call on the people of the Middle Belt Region and all minorities in Nigeria to wake up and work conscientiously with the southerners, if we do, the prospects will be pellucid. This was demonstrated at the National Conference of 2014 to the mortification of those who think this country belongs to them alone.”
ThisDay
Thank you, I’ve recently been looking for information about this topic for ages and yours is the best I have discovered till now. But, what about the bottom line? Are you sure about the source?
Sweet internet site, super style and design, real clean and use genial.
Viagra I would like to tell you about the effective way to take it easily.비아그라구매
Viagra is divided into three doses: 25mg, 50mg, and 100mg. If you have severe sexual problems, you may think that you need to use a higher dose, but this is wrong.비아그라사이트
Viagra can cause palpitations, indigestion, dizziness, flushing, headaches, etc., so you must take 25mg at the time of initial use and check whether it suits you.정품비아그라
비아그라구매사이트 100%해택,사은품 증정,이벤트 하나사면 하나 더,2022년 특별 이벤트1+1.
비아그라구매사이트 100%해택,사은품 증정,이벤트 하나사면 하나 더,2022년 특별 이벤트1+1.
Hi , I do believe this is an excellent blog. I stumbled upon it on Yahoo , i will come back once again. Money and freedom is the best way to change, may you be rich and help other people.
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The sector hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who are not afraid to say how they believe. All the time follow your heart.
I got what you mean ,saved to bookmarks, very nice site.
Useful info. Fortunate me I found your site accidentally, and I’m shocked why this coincidence didn’t took place earlier! I bookmarked it.
Simply a smiling visitor here to share the love (:, btw outstanding style and design.
I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog posts in this sort of space . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this web site. Reading this info So i am happy to show that I have a very excellent uncanny feeling I found out just what I needed. I most unquestionably will make sure to don?¦t put out of your mind this web site and give it a glance on a continuing basis.
What’s Going down i am new to this, I stumbled upon this I have discovered It absolutely helpful and it has helped me out loads. I’m hoping to contribute & assist different customers like its helped me. Great job.
When I originally commented I clicked the “Notify me when new comments are added” checkbox and now each time a comment is added I get several e-mails with the same comment. Is there any way you can remove people from that service? Many thanks!
I’ll right away grab your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription link or e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please let me know in order that I could subscribe. Thanks.
I reckon something really special in this web site.
Definitely, what a magnificent website and educative posts, I definitely will bookmark your blog.Have an awsome day!
As a Newbie, I am constantly searching online for articles that can aid me. Thank you
Wonderful blog! I found it while surfing around on Yahoo News. Do you have any suggestions on how to get listed in Yahoo News? I’ve been trying for a while but I never seem to get there! Thanks
Simply wanna remark on few general things, The website style and design is perfect, the content material is rattling fantastic. “To imagine is everything, to know is nothing at all.” by Anatole France.
Real good information can be found on web site. “Wealth may be an ancient thing, for it means power, it means leisure, it means liberty.” by James Russell Lowell.
whoah this blog is excellent i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, lots of people are searching around for this info, you could help them greatly.
Perfect work you have done, this site is really cool with superb information.
Have you ever thought about writing an ebook or guest authoring on other blogs? I have a blog centered on the same topics you discuss and would love to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would appreciate your work. If you’re even remotely interested, feel free to send me an e-mail.
wonderful issues altogether, you just gained a emblem new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your submit that you made some days in the past? Any sure?
Good write-up, I am normal visitor of one’s site, maintain up the excellent operate, and It’s going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Thank you for sharing excellent informations. Your website is very cool. I’m impressed by the details that you¦ve on this website. It reveals how nicely you understand this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my pal, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched everywhere and simply could not come across. What a perfect website.
Wow, incredible weblog structure! How lengthy have you ever been running a blog for? you made running a blog glance easy. The whole look of your web site is great, let alone the content!
Awsome article and right to the point. I am not sure if this is really the best place to ask but do you folks have any thoughts on where to get some professional writers? Thanks in advance 🙂
I have been checking out many of your posts and it’s pretty nice stuff. I will surely bookmark your blog.
I’ve recently started a web site, the information you offer on this website has helped me greatly. Thanks for all of your time & work.
I have been absent for a while, but now I remember why I used to love this blog. Thanks , I will try and check back more often. How frequently you update your web site?
Your house is valueble for me. Thanks!…
Lovely just what I was looking for.Thanks to the author for taking his clock time on this one.
Heya! I’m at work browsing your blog from my new apple iphone! Just wanted to say I love reading your blog and look forward to all your posts! Carry on the fantastic work!
Very interesting topic, thankyou for putting up.
Tonic Greens: An Overview. Introducing Tonic Greens, an innovative immune support supplement
What is Gluco6 Supplement? Gluco6 is a blend of doctor-formulated ingredients promising to help users develop healthy blood sugar ranges.
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem with your web site in internet explorer, would test this… IE still is the market leader and a large portion of people will miss your wonderful writing due to this problem.
A powerful share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a little bit analysis on this. And he actually bought me breakfast because I found it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the treat! However yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I really feel strongly about it and love studying extra on this topic. If doable, as you turn out to be experience, would you thoughts updating your blog with extra details? It’s highly useful for me. Big thumb up for this blog publish!
You have brought up a very superb points, thankyou for the post.
I like this blog so much, saved to favorites.
Excellent read, I just passed this onto a colleague who was doing some research on that. And he actually bought me lunch since I found it for him smile So let me rephrase that: Thanks for lunch!
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I am impressed! Very helpful info specially the last part 🙂 I care for such info much. I was looking for this particular information for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.
FitSpresso: An Outline FitSpresso is a weight management formula made using five herbal ingredients.
Very well written article. It will be useful to anyone who utilizes it, as well as me. Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.
Wow, incredible weblog structure! How long have you been running a blog for? you made blogging glance easy. The entire look of your website is fantastic, as well as the content material!
I got what you mean , thanks for posting.Woh I am glad to find this website through google. “If one does not know to which port one is sailing, no wind is favorable.” by Seneca.
whoah this weblog is fantastic i like studying your articles. Keep up the great work! You already know, a lot of persons are searching round for this info, you could aid them greatly.
Deference to website author, some excellent information .
Hey! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the great info you might have here on this post. I can be coming back to your weblog for extra soon.
I’m not sure where you are getting your information, but good topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great information I was looking for this info for my mission.
You should take part in a contest for one of the best blogs on the web. I will recommend this site!
I believe this web site has some really great information for everyone :D. “When you get a thing the way you want it, leave it alone.” by Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill.
It’s actually a cool and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Im no longer certain the place you are getting your info, however good topic. I needs to spend a while studying more or working out more. Thanks for wonderful information I was searching for this information for my mission.
I’d need to test with you here. Which is not one thing I normally do! I get pleasure from reading a post that can make individuals think. Also, thanks for allowing me to remark!
Hi my family member! I wish to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all significant infos. I?¦d like to look more posts like this .
I believe other website proprietors should take this site as an model, very clean and good user friendly layout.
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is a really well written article. I will make sure to bookmark it and come back to read more of your useful information. Thanks for the post. I’ll certainly return.
Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!…
There is visibly a bunch to know about this. I consider you made certain good points in features also.
Valuable info. Lucky me I found your web site by accident, and I’m shocked why this accident didn’t happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
I’m still learning from you, as I’m trying to reach my goals. I definitely liked reading all that is posted on your website.Keep the aarticles coming. I enjoyed it!
Some truly good info , Gladiola I observed this.
Interesting blog! Is your theme custom made or did you download it from somewhere? A theme like yours with a few simple tweeks would really make my blog shine. Please let me know where you got your design. Thank you
I like this web blog its a master peace ! Glad I discovered this on google .
I don’t even know how I ended up here, however I believed this submit was once great. I don’t recognize who you might be but certainly you are going to a well-known blogger for those who aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
Simply want to say your article is as astounding. The clarity to your submit is simply excellent and i could suppose you are knowledgeable in this subject. Fine together with your permission let me to seize your RSS feed to keep updated with approaching post. Thanks 1,000,000 and please keep up the gratifying work.
What i don’t understood is actually how you are no longer actually a lot more well-preferred than you may be now. You’re so intelligent. You realize therefore significantly on the subject of this matter, produced me individually believe it from a lot of various angles. Its like women and men aren’t interested unless it is one thing to do with Woman gaga! Your personal stuffs excellent. All the time handle it up!
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my site so i came to “return the favor”.I am attempting to find things to enhance my web site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your ideas!!
My brother recommended I might like this website. He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You cann’t consider simply how a lot time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
Good info and straight to the point. I am not sure if this is actually the best place to ask but do you people have any ideea where to employ some professional writers? Thanks 🙂
Magnificent website. Lots of helpful info here. I am sending it to a few friends ans additionally sharing in delicious. And naturally, thanks on your sweat!
excellent points altogether, you just gained a new reader. What would you suggest in regards to your post that you made a few days ago? Any positive?
I have read a few good stuff here. Definitely worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how much effort you put to create such a fantastic informative website.
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site :).