September 29, (THEWILL) – The Southern and Middle-Belt Alliance (SaMBA) has condemned the position of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) on zoning the 2023 presidency to the South.
THEWILL reported that the NGF had on Monday opposed the call by its southern counterpart that the presidency should return to the South in 2023.
The NGF had said at its meeting in Kaduna state that rotation of the presidency is unconstitutional and contradictory to the letters of the 1999 constitution (as Amended).
But SAMBA in its response on Wednesday declared that the NGF statement is capable of fuelling secessionist agitations in the country.
SaMBA is a front-line of Southwest, Southeast, Southsouth and Middlebelt political group.
The group noted in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Rwang Pam Jnr., that while there is no express provision for zoning in the Constitution, Section 14(3) explicitly provides for distribution of offices in the composition of government in the country.
SaMBA warned that any further attempt by the northern region to retain power in 2023 will defeat the purpose of a united Nigeria where every man and region’s right to rule is equal, adding that such attempt will endanger the already fragile unity of the country.
The statement reads: “The recent statement credited to the Northern Governors Forum that power shift is unconstitutional is an attempt stand history on its head and could fuel separatist agitations in the country.
“The section of the Constitution referenced by the Northern Governors only refers to the requirements for someone to be declared as elected President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but the relevant constitutional provision for power rotation is section 14(3) which explicitly for the spread of political offices in the country to prevent one ethnic or region dominating another for the sake of peace and unity in the country.
“Section 14(3) states: The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of its affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few States or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
“Therefore, it is contrary to the letters and spirit of the Constitution and a danger to the unity of Federal Republic of Nigeria for the core North to spend eight years in office as and still be thinking of seeking another eight years.
“Nigerians are aware, that after former President Olusegun Obasanjo completed his 8-year term in 2007, the South unanimously agreed for the Northern Nigeria to produce the President. In 2007, the South did not cry that zoning is unconstitutional, and President Obasanjo duly handed over Power to a northerner, the late former President Umaru Ya’Adua.
“It is also public knowledge that former President Goodluck Jonathan lost the 2015 Presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari partly because of the global sentiment, that it was the turn of the North to Produce the President, even though Dr Goodluck Jonathan had only spent one term in office as elected president.
“Therefore, it is not in the interest of the country for the North to hold onto power in 2023; because doing so will be to the detriment of the already fragile unity of the country and more likely to lead to an increase of separatist movements across the country.
“The position of the Middle Belt Region is categorically clear, that it agrees with the rest of Nigerians, that the south should produce the president in 2023.
“We therefore unequivocally advise the Northern Governors Forum to perish the thought of holding onto power in 2023 and the same applies to the various political parties (APC, PDP, or any other party) to bury the thought of zoning the Presidency to the North.
“We further advise the governors of the 15 states where the middle belt ethnic nationalities constitutes the dominant population, that any governor from the Middle Belt that supported the notion that power should remain with the Northern region is not reflecting the views of their peoples.
“In the spirit of fairness, moral justice, national peace and equity, SaMBA stands with the majority of Nigerians: power must shift to the south!”
