Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, a beneficiary of zoning at the beginning of the fourth republic, and who in 2007, when his boss schemed for a third term, rebuffed all entreaties, and stated that there was a gentleman agreement that power must go back to the North after Obasanjo’s tenure, is currently singing a different tune, and has faulted the call on the PDP to zone the presidential ticket to the South, adding that the process is not recognized by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Atiku, who was elected Governor of Adamawa state in 1999, was elevated to Vice President because of PDP zoning, which gave the position to the North-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria,
Speaking at a meeting with members of a group, ‘Let’s Fix Nigeria’ with Atiku, at his home in Abuja, the former Vice President stated that any Nigerian has the right attributes could lead the country, as against the call for a younger president, and urged Nigerians to look for such a person and give him leadership.
The former Vice President noted how he brought the idea of zoning in the PDP during a discussion with a former vice president, the late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, assured that he would adopt measures that would unify and stabilise Nigeria, if elected.
“But then, as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country, we felt that there should be a sense of belonging. We went and invented this zoning.
“Therefore, we went further to say there should be zonal representation. So, let me assure you that as far as I am concerned, I will observe and implement whatever will bring about the peace and stability of this country.
“Leadership is endowed by God. You can have a young man come and do better than an old man. So, it is an endowed attribute from God, therefore, we should try to look for such a person who has been endowed by God, who has those attributes and then give him leadership.
Earlier, a caucus of concerned groups on power shift to the South and the need for a younger presidential candidate to emerge come 2023 had adviced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to shelve his ambition to contest for the office.
The group consists of leaders of organizations for Atiku, such as National Co-ordinator, Turaki Arewa Vanguard; National President, Middle Belt Network for Atiku; South-West for Atiku 2023 leader/convener and National Co-ordinator, North4North Support Group for Atiku.
Femi Osabinu made the appeal while addressing the journalist in Abuja, he noted that the country needs a young and more energetic unifier that will be able to handle the rigours of being physically present in crises spots to make the physical and psychological statement of government being in charge and committed to finding lasting solutions to national challenges.
He said: “While Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has served the nation with distinction as evidenced in the fact that we have been his supporters for years, it is also undeniable that at 77 years of age going into this race, it will be a mismatch of national priorities to support his quest, taking into consideration the unique interplay of circumstances currently confronting our country.
“Nigeria needs a young and more energetic unifier, who will be able to handle the rigours of being physically present in crises spots to make the physical and psychological statement of government being in charge and committed to finding lasting solutions to our national challenges.”
“In 2007 when former President Olusegun Obasanjo moved for third term, it was the same Atiku Abubakar that stood up and said there was a gentleman agreement that power must go back to the North after Obasanjo’s tenure.
“Having been around for decades and served at different levels, up to the highest level of government as a very influential Vice President, we believe Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has done his tour of duty in the front row of national affairs. It is now time for him to take a back seat and play the role of elder statesman, the billings of which he had been living up to.
“His role, going forward, should be of providing guidance to the younger ones across ethnic, religious and partisan divisions to help build a consensus of what Nigeria should be and how she ought to go about becoming all she can be in the comity of nations,” he added.
The former vice president lamented that Nigeria was more divided now than it was during the Civil War, while insecurity and poverty had become prevalent in the country.
“I have never seen; this country have so many challenges at the same time. So, sometimes, when I am on my bed, I begin to wonder whether to go for it (contest) or not, because the challenges are just too many. In my life, I have never seen Nigeria in such a bad situation.
“As far as the unity of this country is concerned, we are more divided. Even when we fought the Civil War, we were never as divided as this. We never have a breakdown of law and order like this because when we fought the Civil War, it was confined to a particular location, in every other place, there was peace.
“We never had this kind of poverty where even the farmer cannot go to farm the food to eat, not to talk of commercial farming. So, I have never seen this country so bad, and it is going to be a daunting task for anybody to come and turn things around.”
