The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: Zoning

  • Tension in PDP over zoning, convention committee

    Tension in PDP over zoning, convention committee

    Barring any last minute change, the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) National Executive Committee (NEC) would meet on Wednesday to consider the report of its zoning committee headed by Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom.

    Daily Sun gathered that NEC, which would be preceded by a meeting of the National caucus would also take decisions on venue of the May 28/29 national convention to nominate its presidential candidate and as well the composition of the convention planning committee.

    Tension has been mounting in the party following the recommendation of the zoning panel that the contest for the presidential ticket be thrown open. Stakeholders in the South, including governors, had kicked against the plan describing it as a violation of Section 7 (3) (C) of the PDP constitution.

    Daily Sun gathered that ahead of the NEC meeting, party leaders from across the country, especially presidential aspirants have intensified consultations and lobby to ensure that decisions to be taken are in their favour.

    It was also gathered that the PDP is considering holding the convention in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) or any of the states controlled by the party.

    A source told Daily Sun that besides the issue of zoning, the other matter likely to generate interest in the meeting of the party organ is the composition of the convention planning committee. The source noted that since it was already obvious that the party is working towards throwing the presidential ticket open, aspirants are concerned about the composition of the convention planning committee.

    “It is almost certain that the presidential ticket will not be zoned because a lot of our leaders believe that what is most important is winning the elections. So, attention is shifting to the composition of the convention committee.”

    However, ahead of the NEC meeting, indications have emerged that members of NEC and Board of Trustees (BoT) are divided among the presidential aspirants.

    Daily Sun gathered that there were concerns that discussions at the NEC meeting may be deadlocked because of the split.

    The PDP presidential screening panel headed by former Senate president, David Mark, had cleared 15 aspirants to participate in the May 28/29 presidential primary. They include former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, Aminu Tambuwal, Nyesom Wike, Emmanuel Udom, governors of Sokoto Rivers and Akwa Ibom states respectively, as well as former Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and publisher of Ovation Magazine, Dele Momodu.

    Also cleared were former president, Manufacturing Association of Nigeria (MAN), Sam Ohuabunwa; investment banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; Charles Ugwu; Chikwendu Kalu and Tareila Diana.

    Already, members of NEC have taken strategic positions in the campaign organisations of the respective presidential aspirants. BoT and NEC members backing Atiku are former governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu; former minister of police Affairs, Adamu Waziri; Chief Raymond Dokpesi among others.

    Former PDP National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh are amongst members of the opposition party’s NEC pushing for the candidacy of Governor Tambuwal. However, it could not be ascertained, as the time of filing this report if the chairman of the Tambuwal Campaign Organisation, Senator Tunde Ogbeha is also a member of NEC.

    Similarly, Governors Okezie Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Abia and Enugu states respectively, who are also members of NEC, as well as former Gombe State governor, Ibrahim Dakwambo, are among those campaigning Governor Wike while Akwa Ibom Governor, Udom Emmanuel has the former governor of Benue State championing his candidacy.

    When contacted, the chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Walid Jibrin, told Daily Sun that he was indisposed and could not speak. However, a leader of the party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope told Daily Sun there was nothing anyone could do about BoT and NEC members backing different presidential aspirants.

    “There is nothing that can be done about that. Except that we should pray for the BoT and NEC members, that they just be guided by all that is just and fair. That is all,” Babatope said.

  • Presidency: APC yet to decide on zoning

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Adamu, has said that the party has not taken a decision on zoning of the presidency.

    He said this while fielding questions after he led a delegation comprising the National Secretary, Senator Iyiola Omisore; Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, and the Chairman of the campaign committee for the Ekiti election, Governor Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi State, to present the governorship candidate for the June 18 election in Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji, to President Muhammadu Buhari. Adamu said no decision has been reached on the zone to produce its presidential candidate for the 2023 election. This comes as the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) led by Prof. Ango Abdullahi, has begun fresh moves to pressure major political parties to throw their tickets open to all sections of the country, saying that “power shift arrangement is already dead and buried.”

    While stating that the APC was yet to decide, he maintained: “I am today privileged to be the chairman of the party. The party is greater than me. The party has not made a decision and I cannot preempt what the party decision will be.”

    On why the ruling party had set the cost of nomination and expression of interest forms for the presidential ticket at a staggering N100 million, governorship ticket at N50 million, Senate at N20 million, and N10 million for the House of Representatives, Adamu asserted that the for APC, the strategy was to discourage parties that have no chance of winning election to sponsor individuals to play the role of spoilers. According to him, the cost also had to be exorbitant because of the need to raise sufficient funds to successfully prosecute coming elections.

    He said: “On the issue of cost of forms, we have no regrets whatsoever. We did some homework. We know what it takes to go through primaries, go through presidential campaign, go through election of the president.

    “We also do know that there are citizens who are qualified to contest but who are not serious contenders, who will just want to take anything cheap by the roadside, and assert what they call their rights and create problems for our party.”

    (Sun)

  • PDP S’east: Zoning pattern must be strictly observed and adhered to.

    The PDP South-East has directed that the existing zoning patterns in states and constituencies of the zone must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency of the zone.

    Briefing newsmen after the Zonal Executive Committee, ZEC, meeting of the PDP, held in Enugu, and attended by the leader of the party in the South East and Governor of Enugu State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, his Abia State counterpart, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, the National Secretary of the Party, Senator Sam Anyanwu, members of the State and National Assemblies, members of PDP National Executive Committee, NEC, Board of Trustees, BOT members, among others, the National Vice Chairman (South East), Chief Ali Odefa disclosed that it was unanimously agreed that the PDP should zone the Presidency of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to the Southern part of the country ahead of the party’s primaries.

    Odefa added that the PDP South-East stands with the resolution of the Southern Governors’ Forum “that the Office of the Presidency should be zoned to the Southern part of Nigeria”.

    On the issue of zoning at the state and constituency levels in the zone, the PDP National Vice Chairman stated: “We said where there are zoning patterns, they must be strictly observed and adhered to in every state and constituency”.

    Chief Odefa added: “We also went ahead to make interventions for our members who are holding political and elective positions in Anambra State who didn’t defect to other political parties in the time of the election but stood by the party (PDP) in times of bad weather, that they should be given support to return to their various offices”.

    He, therefore, revealed that the zonal leadership of the party will make a presentation to the National Working Committee for assistance in that regard.

    (Vanguard)

  • Zoning: 2023 Elections

     

    When the news broke last Monday that APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu disclosed to Nigerians that he had been in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to inform President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest for the nation’s top job next year, my mind was at once settled and in turmoil over the declaration.

     

    Settled because the man we all have come to know as the Jagaban has officially put to rest any doubts about his presidential ambition and confirmed that the activities of various support groups in the past few months were fore-runners of the big word from the big man himself.

     

    I was equally troubled because the announcement threw up the issue of rotation or zoning again.This is because after President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC, from the North, it had become the natural expectation that the next presidential candidate of the ruling party from the APC must come from the South, in line with the informal rotation credo of the power elite, irrespective of which faction, in which party, is in power at any time.

    By that, all competent Nigerians from the North, including those from Katsina, Buhari’s home state have been automatically excluded.

     

    Similarly, the main opposition party, the PDP, which practised and religionised zoning in the 16 years it held federal power is currently enmeshed in gritty politicking over which part of the country should get its presidential ticket.

     

    The argument in the PDP is worsened by the political arithmetic being peddled to the effect that in the 16 years of the PDP, the South held presidential power longest — eight years by Obasanjo, three years by late Umaru Yar’Adua, five years by Goodluck Jonathan, as a result of which the presidential ticket should go to the North, amid an uproarious clamour for a Southern president.

     

    I do not expect much from the other political parties, most of which are trading platforms and special purpose vehicles used to reclaim senatorial, house of assembly, and in some past cases, governorship seats.

     

    They will, after wheeling and dealing, announce that they have adopted the candidates of one party or the other.

     

    In September 2021, the governors of our Southern States met in Asaba, and among other things, declared in their communique that the next president of the country should come from the South.

     

    That resolution, along with their position on the issue of VAT generated much applause.

     

    I have never liked rotation, or zoning. My personal view of the idea is that it elevates the politics of exclusion to the high pedestal of political righteousness by justifying exclusion of one part with arguments in support of inclusion of the benefitting zone or region. The polemics change at every election cycle.

     

    The most potent argument against zoning, in my view, is that we stand to lose all the time by it.

     

    If the PDP arithmetic gains traction, it means another president from the North. On the converse, if the clamour for a Southern president succeeds, the best hands that this nation needs at these times may never smell the office. Zoning helped drive us to where we are today.

     

    Recall that in the November 5, 2021 edition of this column, I posited that religion and zoning are red herrings in Nigerian politics. They have, since 1975, been used by militicians (military politicians) to mask incompetence in the management of public affairs and institutionalise graft in governance.

     

    It has also been used to suck politicians of all ethnic groups into the dragnet of corruption in national life. Zoning is actually a creation of the military administration that succeeded General Yakubu Gowon.

     

    The Gowon Administration which preceded the Murtala/Obasanjo regime had as Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters — Brigadier Emmanuel Ekpo, and later, Rear-Admiral Joseph Edet Akinwale Wey.

     

    As the names show, General Yakubu Gowon and his two chiefs were Christians, in addition to the Vice-Chairman of the Federal Executive Council, till 1971, being another Christian in the person of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Murtala Muhammed, a Moslem, had Obasanjo, a Christian as deputy.

     

    When Murtala died and Obasanjo succeeded him, he appointed Shehu Musa Yar’Adua as his deputy.

     

    That was the take-off.

     

    Today, zoning has become a mantra that must not just be sung by politicians irrespective of party affiliation, it has assumed the status of an unwritten political grundnorm.

     

    Whether I am right or wrong about zoning will not matter if we continue politicking the way we always do.

     

    As I write this, at least four politicians from the South have indicated interest in the presidency.

     

    They are Asiwaju Tinubu, David Umahi, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Dele Momodu.

     

    The number may increase by the time you are reading this. What I want all of us to take to the bank is that Southern Nigeria will splinter its electoral treasure, while those adept at political manipulation, and who always voted for politicians of their ethnic stock run away with the prize in 2023.

     

    Watch, and may The Almighty preserve us all till then and beyond.

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • PDP won’t zone Presidency to the South in 2023 – Saraki

     

    Former Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said despite the fact that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has zoned its national chairmanship to the North Central, it did not prevent any qualified aspirant from any zone from contesting the presidency in 2023.

     

    Speaking on a national television programme monitored in Lagos, yesterday, the former Kwara State governor debunked speculations that the party would zone its presidency to the south since it zoned its national chairmanship to the north.

     

    He said the leadership of the party had at different fora reiterated its commitment to throwing open the contest for the 2023 presidential ticket to all zones as long as it gets the best candidate from the process.

     

    “On the issue of zoning, the party has made it very clear in all our meetings that even though we have zoned the position of party offices, it does not preclude anybody that has any presidential ambition. Most of our leaders have said that, and we have said that at our NEC, and all the possible meetings, that even though we have taken the chairmanship of the party to the North Central, it does not preclude anyone from contesting. What we are looking for is the best candidate that would win the election.”

     

    Saraki said the party was undaunted by the defection of three of its governors (Ebonyi, Zamfara and Cross River), federal and state legislators, saying that such actions were expected. He, however, said the PDP will receive a former governor into its fold this week, and that Nigerians should not be surprise if bigwigs from the All Progressives Congress (APC) defect to the PDP when the 2023 elections draws closer.

     

    “It is not true that we are haemorrhaging members because I had said it a couple of times that there were certain governors that we knew were going to leave. In fact, they had left, but we were just waiting for their final exit, so we were not surprised. We have got some big wigs that will be coming to our party this week, there is a former governor that would join us and you should know that when leaders in the ruling party want to defect, they don’t defect early. I think Nigerians should not be surprised when they begin to see some defections from the ruling party.

    “In 2015, the number of states that APC has now is almost the same as what we had in the PDP, and the concern that people are defecting should not matter. More importantly, the country is in a different place now and Nigerians have seen what the ruling party has to offer. We all have differences in our party and we are resolving because this is the only alternative party for Nigerians that would provide leadership, that is why we in the PDP believe that the interest of Nigerians should supersede our individual interests. We have been able to resolve our differences across the states so that we can convince Nigerians that we are able to take over the leadership of the country,” he said.

     

    When asked if he will contest for the presidency in 2023, he said it was too early for anyone to declare such ambition even as he debunked speculations that if he contested and lost, he would leave the PDP.

     

    “Because some people defected from the PDP to APC does not mean that I would defect. You have to look at my antecedents in 2019 and you will see that the fact that I didn’t win elections didn’t make me defect, so I can’t see why that would come up. Where we are now is not about anyone’s personal ambition, it is about how we can work to make this country better. What is important for us is to build a strong party and that was why I took up the responsibility of leading the reconciliation committee because there was concern that the party was losing a lot of steam. We can’t talk about our ambition without a strong party and in due time I will answer the question of whether I will contest or not.”

     

    On the court case brought against the PDP by its former national chairman, Uche Secondus, he said: “We have a court case involving him because he is still our chairman, but we are looking beyond that and looking at our congress. Do we look like a party that is resolving its issues and trying to move forward to its convention to elect new leaders? Today, we are not meeting to resolve state congresses because we have been able to move forward. We cannot afford to get it wrong in 2023 and PDP is in a better position to give credible leadership.”

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Zoning controversy: PDP tearing apart

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) faces a stormy week over zoning of party offices.

     

    Two key meetings on the vexed issue — the final session of the National Zoning Committee headed by Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the party’s governors’ meeting on the report of the Ugwuanyi panel – will hold this week.

     

     

    The Ugwuanyi panel’s meeting last week ended in a deadlock.

     

    Members were divided over the proposal by leaders of the party in the North who proposed adoption of the 2017 formula.

     

    The 2017 formula zones the party chairman to the South, which inevitably leaves the presidential zoning to the North.

     

    Southerners at the meeting said Governor Ugwuanyi ended the meeting and rescheduled it for Wednesday as the groups – the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’ promoted by Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde and ‘Move Around Group’ championed by former President of the Senate Anyim Pius Anyim – battled to carry the day.

     

    Read Also; 2023: The zoning controversy

    The Makinde-led group was okay with zoning of the chairmanship slot to the South while the one propelled by Anyim wanted the chairmanship slot pushed to the North, sources at the meeting told our correspondent.

     

    Another former Senate President Iyorcha Ayu, at the Enugu meeting, warned that any decision on zoning may not be binding, unless the positions of the governors are known.

     

    “The need for consensus on zoning is important because decisions to be taken at this week’s meetings will be taken to the National Executive Committee (NEC), the last to be held between October 31 Convention”, a party leader said at the weekend.

     

    He added: “If it is not resolved and we go for convention in this manner, the convention will be a convention of crisis. If we don’t agree as stakeholders, the date set for the convention may not be certain.”

     

    The source also predicted a rancorous PDP governors’ meeting, saying that the Forum is already divided.

     

    He said the Southern PDP governors, with the exception of Makinde, are not likely to shift ground on the resolution of the Southern Governors that the South should produce President Buhari’s successor in 2023.

     

    At the weekend, prominent PDP chieftains from the North were lobbying their Southern counterparts to prevail on the Southern PDP governors to shift ground.

     

    The source added: “There is a major difficulty. The North wants to contest for president. But key leaders in the South, particularly the governors, insist that by 2023, the North would have done eight years in Aso Villa.

     

    “The PDP leaders in the South are saying that after eight years, how do we give our future to the North since the next president, if he also comes from the North, will spend eight years?

     

    At the Enugu meeting, PDP leaders from the North were quoted as saying Yar’Adua was the last PDP president from the North. But, the PDP leaders from the South said the leadership of Nigeria is not about PDP or APC; that Buhari had taken the place of the North. They maintained that any political party that produces the president means that a zone has produced a president; it means that zone has taken its place.

     

    It was learnt that due to flight problems, some chieftains could not make the meeting.

     

    Among chieftains who could not attend the meeting were former Senate President David Mark, Mrs. Jumoke  Akinjide and Senator Hosea Agboola.

  • PDP National Convention – Zoning Committee Meeting Ends In a Stalemate

    PDP National Convention – Zoning Committee Meeting Ends In a Stalemate

    The meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Convention Committee on Zoning in Enugu on Thursday ended in a stalemate as stakeholders could not reach a definite decision on where the next national chairman of the party should emerge from, Daily Independent gathered.

    Following the development, the committee adjourned till next week Thursday in order to allow it to consult with other relevant stakeholders in the party, especially the PDP Governors’ Forum and the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    Addressing newsmen after the closed-door meeting held at the Government House, Enugu, chairman of the committee and governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, said that “we had a fruitful meeting and we adjourned to conclude next week”.

    There was a sharp division among members of the committee headed by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on which zone should produce the next national chairman of the party which is currently occupied by the Southern part of the country.

    While some members of the committee wanted the South to retain it with the hope that doing so will pave way for the

    presidential candidate of the party to come from the North, others canvassed that the North should produce the next national chairman in the spirit of the four-year rotational agreement in the party.

    Daily Independent gathered that two groups emerged from within and outside the zoning committee with both disagreeing on where the next national chairman should come from.

    The first group, the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’, wanted all the party offices retained in the geographical side to which they presently are.

    However, the second group, the ‘Move Around Group’, wanted all the positions presently in the South to be transferred to the North while the ones in the North should move southward. By the calculation of the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’, the chairmanship of the party will be retained in the South while the national secretary will move to the North.

    However, the ‘Move Around Group’ wanted the next chairman of PDP to emerge from the North while the South produces the secretary. Also while the ‘Move Around Group’ believed that zoning the chairman’s position to the North will make the presidential ticket to be automatically zoned to the South, they continued to insist that the issue at hand now is party position and when the party gets to the point where it has to nominate the presidential flagbearer, the matter will be resolved.

    However, the ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’ believed that the zoning committee should also adopt the position of the Bala Mohammed Committee which reviewed the performance of the party in the 2019 general election. It wanted the presidential ticket of the party thrown open for aspirants from all the six zones.

    Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim led the ‘Move Around Group’ with the support of some elements in the South-South and SouthEast zones. The ‘Maintain the Status Quo Group’ is led by Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo and has the buy-in of key leaders of the party across South-West and the three zones in the North.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Ugwuanyi clarified that the committee has no mandate to zone political offices such as president or vice president. The governor explained that “our committee is strictly limited to the PDP national executive offices to be contested at the 2021 PDP National Convention scheduled for the end of October 2021”, stressing: “We have no mandate to zone political offices such as president or vice president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

    Gov. Ugwuanyi maintained that the PDP remains the most credible platform to deliver good and accountable governance to Nigeria, adding that the work of the committee will contribute immensely “in this deliberate search for national officers of our party that will help PDP achieve the lofty ideals and goals of our founding fathers”.

    He, therefore, encouraged members of the committee to be frank, open and constructive in their proposals and debates, and also exhibit consistency with the enormity of their mandate.

    “The membership and leadership of this committee have been carefully selected as it is composed of very experienced, competent and eminent Nigerians who are desirous of repositioning the PDP to play its role not just as the main opposition political party in Nigeria but to build a party that offers alternative policy proposals and hope to Nigerians that there is still light at the end of the tunnel”, Gov. Ugwuanyi said.

    Members of the committee present at the meeting included the governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who is the Deputy Chairman; the Deputy Governor of Zamfara State, Barr. Mahdi Aliyu Mohammed, who serves as secretary; former Presidents of the Senate, Senators Iyorchia Ayu and Anyim Pius Anyim; and former governors of Niger, Ekiti, Sokoto, Jigawa and Adamawa states, Dr. Muazu Aliyu Babangida, Ayodele Fayose, Attahiru Bafarawa, Sule Lamido, and Boni Haruna, respectively.

    They also included Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Rt. Hon. Sunday K. E Okoye, Chief Dan Orbih, Chief (Dr.) Ali Odefa, Amb. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, Chief Osita Chidoka, Chidi Lloyd, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Senator Emmanuel Nwaka, Engr. Donatus Udeh, among others.

    Meanwhile, ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention slated for October 30, 6000 delegates will converge in Abuja to elect new National Working Committee (NWC) to pilot the affairs of the party.

    This is even as Governors Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Udom Emmanuel of Akwa-Ibom and Darius Ishaku of Taraba have emerged as chairmen of sub-committees. These developments emerged on Thursday during the inauguration of the party’s 15 sub-convention committees.

    Disclosing this after the inauguration, the Chairman of the National Convention organising committee and Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, also said that the leadership tussle in the party has largely been addressed.

    He said: “We are expecting over 6,000 delegates by our new constitution and we are fully prepared for that. We’re expecting everybody in every ward that is a delegate to attend the convention.

    “We are moving on. I am the chairman of the convention committee and you can see that we are doing our work.

    Everybody is happy and participating. I don’t see any crisis in this party.”

    On which provision of the party’s constitution is likely to be amended, Fintiri stressed the importance of allowing the committee to complete its job, saying, “I don’t want to preempt anybody’s job. The work is segmented into sub-committees. The constitution committee is working, and I will wait for the report to be submitted before I make any comment on it,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Governor Wike has emerged as the Chairman of Special Duties Sub-Committee; Governor Emmanuel, Chairman of Constitutional Amendment and Governor Darius, Chairman of Contact and Mobilisation.

    Other appointments as announced by Senator Duoye Diri include Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Mohammed Bello Adoke, Ifeanyi Okowa, and Solomon Arase as chairmen of zoning, screening, screening appeal, accreditation and security committees.

    Others are Ahmadu Fintiri (electoral), Godwin Obaseki (publicity), Bala Mohammed (venue), Mariya Waziri (welfare and entertainment), Ibrahim Dankwambo (transportation), Biodun Olujimi (protocol), Nuhu (medical) and Ibrahim Tsauri (secretariat).

  • 2021 PDP National Convention: NEC to decide zoning formulae after Ugwuanyi’s zoning committee sends its report to the organ for deliberation~Kola Ologbondiyan

    2021 PDP National Convention: NEC to decide zoning formulae after Ugwuanyi’s zoning committee sends its report to the organ for deliberation~Kola Ologbondiyan

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has said it cannot decide where to zone its 2023 presidential ticket as well as the National Working Committee (NWC) offices until some issues are resolved, PREMIUM TIMES reports, as Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State chair convention planning and zoning committees respectively.

    After its 93rd National Executive Council (NEC) meeting attended by governors, lawmakers, former ministers and other leaders on Thursday, in Abuja, the party also said it has approved the two new committees in preparation for its forthcoming national convention.

    PREMIUM TIMES sighted at least eight out of the 13 governors elected on PDP platform, as well as its two-term Vice-President and 2019 Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, attended the meeting which was presided over by the party’s Acting National Chairman, Yemi Akinwonmi.

    The embattled National Chairman, Uche Secondus, was conspicuously absent.

    At a press conference held after the long closed-door meeting, the PDP spokesperson Kola Ologbondiyan told journalists that the NEC approved the composition of the National Convention Organising Committee and a Zoning Committee to arrive at a favourable zoning formulae for National Working Committee (NWC) offices.

    “The new committees will be chaired by the Governors of Adamawa and Enugu states, Ahmadu Fintiri, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, respectively, while Governor of Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, and the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom, will deputise the duo.

    “The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, was appointed as the secretary of the convention organising committee while the Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Mahdi Aliyu, will serve as the secretary of the zoning committee.

    “NEC approved the composition of the National Convention Organising Committee as well as the Zoning Committee to zone the National Working Committee offices.

    “NEC approved Ahmadu Fintiri, Governor of Adamawa State as Chairman 2021 National Convention Committee. Senator Douye Diri, Governor of Bayelsa State, as the deputy chairman of the committee while Engineer Seyi Makinde is to serve as the committee secretary.

    “On Zoning Committee, NEC approved Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, the Governor of Enugu State as chairman, Dr Samuel Ortom, the Governor of Benue State is the deputy chairman while Barrister Madi Aliyu Muhammed, the deputy governor of Zamfara State, is secretary of the Zoning Committee,” Ologbondiyan said.

    He said NEC can only decide its zoning formulae after the committee sends its report to the organ for deliberation.

    Ologbondiyan did not disclose the names of the other members of the committees and the duration they are to serve but assured journalists that they will be named before the convention.

    With the fate of its national chairman Uche Secondus uncertain, the main opposition party has since fixed its national convention for 30 and 31 October.

    Ologbondiyan said the party will not change the date as it continues to work to resolve all pending issues among members.

    The PDP held its elective convention in December 2017 when the current Secondus-led NWC was elected.

    The leadership crisis rocking the party forced the party to move the coming convention to October.

  • Enugu 2023: Zoning of governorship positions in the Enugu started from the inception of the state in 1991 – Onoh

    Son of one of the most prominent founding fathers of Enugu State, Dr Josef Umunnakwe Onoh has stated that zoning of governorship positions in the state started from the inception of the state, in 1991 when the state was created.A squabble broke out in Awgu, last week, when one of the stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Rev Hyde Onuaguluchi, in an Enugu West senatorial political rally mounted the podium to say that there was no zoning of governorship in the state.Onuaguluchi’s statement generated tension in the arena and in the state since his statement ran counter to an already established mindset that the 2023 governorship will be zoned to Enugu East senatorial district, having rotated to the other two districts from 2007 to now.However, in a reaction to the debate that followed Onuaguluchi’s gaffe, Onoh Jnr countered Rev. Onagulachi and described him as a rebel who had never agreed with the popular decision of stakeholders in the state. By Clever AdvertisingOnoh said: “I can authoritatively confirm that there is rotation in Enugu state because I was in the company of my father the day he made the statement at Odenigwe’s residence, after that, they proceeded to the sports club where Enechi Onyia came around 6 pm to drop the minutes of their meeting.“Hyde (Onuagulchi) rebelled against that decision and walked away and my father clearly told him openly that he will never be Governor of Enugu state. My brother Gabriel was then the Mayor of the coal city and the last Mayor to rule over what is now Enugu East, Enugu South and Enugu North. “The reason for my father’s decision in the rotation principle and why he asked Enugu North senatorial zone to go first was because of the call he got from Commodore Ibute Ukiwe who narrated the decision of the supreme military council informing him that he wasn’t going to get the two states he wanted, Wawa state (changed to Enugu) and Adada state.Ukaiwe told my father that they opted for Enugu state and Adada was dropped which pained my father a lot. So in order to ensure peace and harmony, the zoning arrangement was born and it was agreed by these respectable and distinguished gentlemen of blessed memory hence Enugu North senatorial District had the grand honour of producing the first executive governor of Enugu state.“The resolve was so strong that on the night of the day late Dr Joe Nwodo was disqualified, my father insisted on a replacement rather than Hyde Onuaguluchi having his way. Joe Nwodo was replaced with Dr Okwesilieze Nwodo his younger brother we were at Mr Adams House at Ogui road to pick him up by 10 pm at night to come and take a photograph of Okwesilieze so he can rush and replace his form. The rest they say is history. “Eventually in 1998, at about 7 pm, a golden brown Lexus s400 pulled up at our family house in Ngwo, I was having dinner with my father, I was drawn by the sleek design of the vehicle and behold three men walked out and I recall my father smile and saying “James o’gunu bu ina cho bem? (What brings you to my house)? He smiled; I stood up and greeted Uncle Jim Nwobodo, then next was H.E, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo and a dark man whom I didn’t know as at then only later during the conversation he was introduced as Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani. “Jim came to solicit for my father’s support to ensure Chimaroke wins the election and be elected as Governor of Enugu State. One statement he made that triggered my memory was when he said to my father, ‘CC, you brought Okwesilieze Nwodo in 1991 I supported you and our agreement still holds so it’s the turn of our zone to produce Governor and my father asked him what zone, he now said Nkanu. At this point my father fumed and said Nkanu is just a local government and not a zone that it’s like Ogui, Ngwo, Nike-Odenigbo, Amechi-uwenu and Amechi-uwani, referring to the entire Enugu East senatorial zone. “Then Jim corrected himself and said it’s the turn of Enugu East, at which my father now asked Chimaroke some questions I won’t go into and Okwesilieze assured him everything was going to be okay and he specifically said to Chimaroke ‘I hope you know after you it will Enugu west, I hope you will do the right thing when that time comes, he smiled and said yes.“He now asked me if I will leave APP and join PDP because I was contesting for the position of a councillor at New Haven ward. That was how I joined PDP and despite all odds, Chimaroke still honoured the same agreement, so did Sullivan Chime and so will Gburugburu (Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi). And when the time comes again tomorrow’s Ex-Governor will hopefully do the same and take his place in the sun.”

    Source: www.vanguardngr.com

  • ENUGU 2023: POWER ROTATION MUST CONTINUE IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION

    ENUGU 2023: POWER ROTATION MUST CONTINUE IN CLOCKWISE DIRECTION

     

    By Buchi Nnaji

     

    As the 2023 general election draw close, political activities in Enugu State are gaining momentum. Politicians, cultural groups and well meaning individuals have started laying claims and counterclaims on whose turn it is to take over from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

    Considering the terrible state of insecurity that has become a nightmare to the South East region, one shouldn’t have had the moral justification to discuss politics while his house is on fire. But it will also be unjust to throw deaf ears on the recent brouhaha over zoning in Enugu State.

    Zoning, otherwise known as ‘rotation of power’ has no doubt enshrined equity, justice, fairness and consequently, peace and political stability in Enugu State since its divine adoption. While some argue that it is not backed by the constitution, the principle of zoning remains kosher.

    Some people wallowing in political oblivion allege that there was never a time it was agreed that zoning should be observed in Enugu State. However, feigning ignorance does not dispute the fact that rotation of power is rooted in Enugu State and also instrumental in maintaining political balancing in the State since the return of democracy.

    Before now, political activities in Enugu State have been characterized by so much violence, thuggery, killing of Innocent souls, and so on. Though it is near impossible to have a hitch free election season, the gentleman’s arrangement of zoning has reduced in no small measure the catastrophe that bedevils it.

    Just as I pointed out in one of my earlier articles on zoning, Enugu State political structure is comfortably standing on a tripod, ekwu na to. The triangular equilibrium in Enugu State is made up of the three senatorial zones, Enugu East, Enugu West, and Enugu North senatorial zones. The rotation of power started from Enugu East zone in 1999, to Enugu West zone and currently in Enugu North zone. So, whoever says there is no zoning arrangement in Enugu State is merely trying to fly an unhealthy kite to favour his or her selfish ambition.

    At this point, having concluded a cycle of power rotation, different unsavory arguments are cropping up from the camp of desperate politicians, in a bid to truncate the smooth zoning process to favor their selfish interests. One school of thought has it that since the first cycle of rotation has ended, the next cycle can start from any zone. Those towing this unproductive path are few selfish individuals who are merely trying to ignite political quagmire. Their ill-fated argument does not hold water as it lacks every sense of propriety and good judgement.

    Another epileptic reasoning has it also that since the first cycle of zoning in Enugu State has been concluded with Enugu North senatorial zone taking the last lap, the next cycle should start from the last zone (Enugu North), going anti-clockwise.

    This obnoxious line of thought on its own is ridiculous, unsubstantial, selfish and dead on arrival. Borrowing a leaf from natural principle, the earth and other planets rotate round the sun in a steady clockwise direction. Never a time was it reported that after a complete rotation, the planets started going anticlockwise. Therefore, it will be counterproductive and foolish to start rotating power in an anti-clockwise direction just to satisfy the desire of desperate politicians. Anticlockwise rotation is tantamount to swimming against the ocean current. No one goes against natural system or pattern and expect victory or good result.

    While all these debates are going on in various media, yet another naive group condemned in entirety the act of peaceful zoning in Enugu State. They claim it is undemocratic and encourages mediocrity. This assumption is utterly wrong because democracy in a simple term is defined as the government of the people, by the people, and for the people. If this definition is in order, it means that democracy and it’s principles revolve around the people. That means, a people can consciously or subconsciously choose a particular arrangement that works for them, in as much as it is for their collective good. That is democratic.

    Others went further to insist that zoning in Enugu State is only a PDP affair, hence does not affect other political parties. Well, as much as it resembles the truth, it is pertinent to note that zoning principle is one of the secret weapons of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP. Their past victories that has kept them in power can be traceable to the fact that they respect equity, fairness and justice, while abhorring marginalization, deceit and divisive actions.

    All the arguments being peddled by different individuals and groups in a deliberate attempt to manipulate, truncate and sabotage the divine political arrangement that has been working in Enugu State are invalid and should be jettisoned.

    Anyone who love Enugu State must put the interest of the state before his/her personal ambition. It will be wrong to disrupt the working zoning arrangement in Enugu State just for one’s selfish desire or aggrandizement.

    Meanwhile, in reality, everybody can never agree to zoning, but that does not change the fact that zoning as being practiced in Enugu State has been fruitful and always take it’s natural course despite efforts being made by few disgruntled individuals and groups to scuttle the gentleman’s agreement. If majority of the stakeholders and the good people of Enugu State still see the need to abide by the principle of clockwise power rotation in order to eschew anarchy, and other vices associated with electioneering, then, those who are against the peaceful zoning system should have a rethink.

    The recent zoning of 2023 governorship ticket by the All Progressive Congress, APC Enugu State to Enugu East senatorial zone is a clear indication that Enugu State respects clockwise zoning arrangement.

    It is however advisable for other political parties in Enugu State such as the incumbent People’s Democratic Party, PDP to also key into the zoning arrangement and cede their governorship ticket to Enugu East senatorial zone if they must continue to make waves in the political history of the State. By so doing, the party is expected to field a credible candidate from Enugu East senatorial zone for the 2023 gubernatorial contest.

  • Enugu 2023: Should Zoning Fly? (1)

    Enugu 2023: Should Zoning Fly? (1)

     

    By Prince Ejeh Josh

     

    Nigeria’s political atmosphere is already heating up. Camps are pitching tents. Consultations from the north to the south, and from the east to the west are already gaining momentum across the Niger. Symposia, birthday parties, lectures, titles, etc., are all being held and taken from different political bigwigs from distinct ethnic groups. Frantic attempts to exchange handshakes across the Niger are ongoing. All these gestures, we were told, were being bankrolled by political allies. Even a whole State House of Assembly has passed a resolution to compel a certain governor to succeed Mr. Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.

    Pressures are already mounting on some people to run. Whether these pressures are as a result of external forces or intra-introspection will become clearer as the political coastline crystalizes. Rumours, being the first political tool wrapped in propaganda are already flying high, driven by supporters of political heavyweights. There have been arguments on whose turn it is to steer the Nigeria statecraft. Interesting arguments are streaking out daily from sectional apologists and alleluia “boys”. This shows that interesting days are ahead.

    In every nook and cranny, different political formations are surreptitiously springing up from political gladiators. Establishments are aligning and realigning. New establishments are also positioning strategically to displace the old order, as each section, camp, ethnic group and zone is laying claim to the right to power.

    Unfolding events are revealing that the battle for the soul of 2023 in Nigeria is going to come with a sweeping effect. Many will be taken by surprise. Gladiators will be swept off by emerging political class. It will be a war that will be strategically fought and tactically won. This time, neither gun, machete, axe nor IED would be the determining weapons. It will be a game dictated by integrity, character, principle, established custom and practice.

    Interestingly, the most important and often preferred custom usually referred to nationwide has started causing rupture and uneasiness in some camps. From the national level to the state level, beneficiaries of this established and well-decorated custom at one time or the other have suddenly made a comeback to thwart it, and have the existence of the custom either denied or redefined to suit whatever reason that might be appeasing to their egocentric pursuit.

    Months ago, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, and one of the “Shadow Ministers and a member of the Kaduna Mafia” in the government, Mr. Mamman Daura, had come out to condemn and rubbish the custom for which he fought and advocated for against the then Mr. Goodluck Jonathan’s administration. He, alongside President Buhari’s ardent supporters, had threatened revolution if the principle of “zoning” was not respected by the south.

    Between 2014 and 2015, it was predicted by the United States that Nigeria would cease to exist. However, the collective will of Nigerians prevailed, and Mr. Buhari of the northern enclave was elected President. The United States’ prediction kissed the rock. This prediction that went directly to the very foundation of Nigeria as a sovereign State could only be displaced by zoning; a gentlemanly agreement. There was a relatively peaceful and secure political atmosphere. Many hailed it as a spirit of zoning and constitutive democracy in action. For political watchers, this zoning principle, although unwritten, has ensured equity, justice, peace, and national unity.

    In 2020, when the then national Chairman of the All Progressive Congress and former Governor of Edo state, who himself was a gracious product of zoning, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, stood up against equity, justice and fairness on the pretext that his estranged godson had gone rascal and in breach of, perhaps, unspeakable anti-people’s agreement clandestinely reached, the people of Edo state wasted no time but quickly retired him from politics. In disbelief, he was given a bloody nose and plucked down from fame and glory.

    Today, the trend and the clamour from different quarters is a continuous call for power brokers to respect the democratic principle that allows power to rotate among the people; both majority and minority ethnic groups, for the purpose of enthroning justice, and assuring the spirit of belongingness.

    In recent times, leaders from different ethnic nationalities have been beckoning on the administration of President Buhari to consider a Nigerian president of Igbo extraction from the south eastern zone. Prominent figures from the Northern Elders Forum, Afenifere leaders, Middle belt leaders, and the Ijaw nation have lent a strong voice to the call for the south easterners to be considered for Equity and Justice sake.

    From the throe of the south east are sons and daughters of the zone making a strong case for the Igbo man to be unanimously nominated and elected President of the country come 2023. These people making this call include the high ranking Senator representing Enugu West senatorial zone, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and of course, the leadership of the Igbo socio-cultural organization, Ohaneze Ndigbo. Analysts have seen the recent agitation and mild unrest from the shore of the east as the resultant effect of marginalisation, abandonment, entrenched injustice and deviation from zoning.

    In a report by The Pacesetter Magazine Frontier Magazine, Chief Obaze Oseloka, a governorship aspirant in the forth coming Anambra state Governorship Election, like other Anambra concerned citizens, have been vehemently arguing for the governorship slot to be zoned to Anambra South. He hinged his support to equity and natural Justice. Every progressive society must come to term with the principle of democracy, of which zoning is a part.

    Of a particular interest about zoning arrangements is the role it has played in maintaining political equilibrium and stable order within the system in Enugu state. But recent developments in the state are becoming more interesting by the day as some of the greatest beneficiaries of the long established zoning and rotation of offices in the state among the three senatorial zones are beginning to question the established order. Quisling. To them, zoning has become archaic, out of tune with civilisation, and should not be allowed to fly by every right thinking individual. Ironically, these set of people, it would appear, have been championing and clamouring for a Nigerian President of Igbo extraction based on the equitable zoning formula.