PDP zoning is temporary - Lar
- Details
- Category: Politics
- Published on Wednesday, 19 May 2010 21:20
- Written by Tribune
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Speaking with newsmen in Jos, the former national chairman of the party, narrated that the idea was conceived in 1999 following myriads of complaints from the Southern part of the country; South-West in particular, that the North was marginalising the zone coupled with the annulment of the election the late Chief M.K.O Abiola.
According to him, the leadership of the party and some elderstatemen then looked at the issue of the Northern domination of the country and unanimously agreed that the presidency be zoned to the South-West so as to have a sense of belonging and to pacify that section of the country.
“It was agreed that zoning should be adopted and the presidency conceded to the South and South-West in particular, considering the annulment of the June 12th election and the feelings of the people of that part of the country.
“Initially there was a rule that the president-to-be then, should be able to deliver his local government, state and zone to the party, but because of the situation of things, I as the national chairman of the party along with others, waived the conditions and allowed Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to get the ticket” he said.
Chief Lar further stated that in 2002 when some notable politicians in the North indicated interest to contest the 2003 presidential election, the caucus of the party met and agreed that the South should be allowed to rule for eight years and the North, eight years.
“So the zoning at that time was to help stabilise the country, it was not a permanent issue, we did it to stabilise the situation but it is up to the PDP to determine whether to continue with it or not. The party should sit and considered if it is still relevant, we would sit down and come up with what would solve the problem,” he said.
