Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu
Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has revisited the controversial zoning principle in the Peoples Democratic Party apart, saying the formula was killed by the death of former President Umaru Yar’Adua.
Aliyu, who made the declaration while addressing a crowd of party supporters in Lambata, Gurara Local Government Area of the state on Saturday, said President Goodluck Jonathan should be allowed to contest the presidential primaries of the PDP.
The governor, who was responding to a protest by some youths agitating for zoning, said, “We believe and respect zoning, but zoning did not take cognisance of death. So, since the death of President Musa Yar’Adua, we should allow President Jonathan to contest the party primaries.
“It is a divine arrangement. There is the hand of God in the whole matter.”
Aliyu, who is also the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, said the party’s presidential candidate would be picked at the party’s primaries. He also asserted that the region would abide by the decision of the party’s January 19, 2011 National Convention on Jonathan’s aspiration.
“We will wait for them to make their decision in Abuja in January,” he added.
But at the state level, the governor assured that his administration would continue to abide by the zoning principle in the sharing of political offices. He warned elected public officers against poor performance. He warned that the party and the people of the state would drop any political office-holder who failed to perform.
“In Niger State, we believe and respect zoning. We stand for zoning but anybody (elected officer) that fails to perform will go, irrespective of zoning,” Aliyu warned.
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