A northern group, Arewa Transformational Leaders, has kicked against zoning of presidential tickets by major political parties to any region.
National Chairman of the group, Alhaji Yusuf Ibrahim, told journalists at the end of their meeting in Abuja, that the loud conversation for zoning of the presidency in 2023 should not be at the centre of conversation.
Meanwhile, as the debate on zoning of the 2023 presidency rages, human rights activist, Senator Shehu Sani has declared that northern politicians were not ready to cede power to the south.
He said politicians cannot continue to accept the principle of federal character and at the same time kick against zoning.
“APC is playing cat and mouse game with PDP. If the opposition fields a northern candidate, APC will field a northerner. This is because of the belief that the poorest of the poor in the north vote according the dictates of their leaders. That is the sentiment. The unity in the north is not in the south. The North-East, North-West and North-Central will vote for a northern candidate, but it is not so in the south. APC is afraid of zoning their ticket to the south because if they do so, and a northerner emerges PDP flag bearer, the ruling party may lose the presidential election,” Sani said.
He said if the opposition party was really desirous of taking over power, it should avoid internal bickering and unite as a force, take advantage of the appalling situation in the country to articulate its points. “For PDP, whoever emerges, after the presidential primary, the party has a duty to rally round him to rescue this country.”