IBB Accuses PDP Leaders Of Hypocrisy Over Zoning

IBB Accuses PDP Leaders Of Hypocrisy Over Zoning

Former military President, Ibrahim Babangida, warned on Sunday that with the calibre and quality of those in political circles, Nigeria may just have to wait for another generation to get things right. He accused Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders of hypocrisy. Babangida, who was reacting to how politicians who were against zoning a few months ago now benefit from it, said he has watched with keen interest political commentaries since the Presidential ballot, and has noticed inconsistencies and the dual role people play in politics.  A statement issued by his Media Spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, expressed shock and surprise at the talk about zoning political offices.  “Following the heated debate that has enveloped the nation in the last one month on which zone to produce what position, and vice-versa, I am wondering about some Nigerians’ ingenuous capacity to make a 360-degree U-turn on zoning,” Babangida stated. He recalled that when the Northern Political Leaders’ Forum (NPLF) raised concerns over the zoning formula of the PDP and the deliberate disobedience of the party’s constitutional provision, some Nigerians called the NPLF all manner of names.  At the time, he said, some argued that zoning should be discarded and merit should be the criterion, and the voice of those who stressed the importance of zoning was lost in the maddening crowd.  “After the elections, the music has suddenly changed and the chorus is now zoning, zoning, zoning, and zoning. How time heals. “Those who aspire to lead the country at different levels of government must come out with certain qualities that will portray them as patriotic and nationalistic.  "There will be no hope for the country if those who double-speak are made to preside over certain levels of government in the name of dubious politicking and zoning which they never believed in.  “The character indices of our leaders must be known at different times and levels. Their elements must be visible and patriotic. Their conduct must be above pecuniary interest. And, above all, their desperation must be checked within the ambit of law.  “If those who shouted hoarse over zoning in the PDP yesterday, (saying, as it were, that the party’s constitution could be jettisoned), are now made beneficiaries of zoning in the party today, then we all are doomed as a nation.  “What manner of supposed leaders are we nurturing? What character of leaders are we building? How do we want the world to perceive us as a people?  "Those who advertise hypocrisy and self-righteous indignation cannot, by any stretch of imagination, be allowed to occupy positions in the name of zoning.” Babangida insisted that his position on zoning has not wavered, and that as a product of a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, with different tribes and tongues, he believes in the efficacy of zoning as a stabilising instrument of political engagement.  He said those who shy away from such “incontrovertible political requirement” to end cries of marginalisation cannot wake up overnight to be beneficiaries of what they never believed in. “In a democracy, we should learn to play by the rules, no matter how painful it might be, and no matter whose ox is gored.” Babangida disclosed that he has no interest in the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairmanship. In any case, South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) Chairman and Anambra State Governor,  Peter Obi, reiterated on Sunday that neither the SEGF nor his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), negotiated for political offices with President Goodluck Jonathan before he got the support of the region in the election. He said rather, the SEGF and the APGA resolved to support any Presidential candidate with the best of interest Ndigbo in his programme.  The struggle for political positions is the responsibility of South East PDP members, Obi argued in an interview in Onitsha at the weekend. South Easterners are concerned that the region has not secured the Senate Presidency or the House of Representatives Speakership despite its massive vote for Jonathan last month. Said Obi: “There are two things there: The South East Governors, of which I am the Chairman, stated that they were not running for President or Vice President.  “Two: We said we would support any candidate with the best interest of the region.  "I am not of the PDP. I support the President. What we want from the President are those things he will do for the masses of Igboland – like the second Niger Bridge, fighting erosion, making Enugu Airport international.  “The job of who gets what political position is for the PDP. It is left for PDP members from this area to ask what is our own. When you blame us is when Jonathan fails to deliver on our expectations.  “They are two different things. We negotiated for what will benefit the masses, what Jonathan will do for the Igbo man within four years of his tenure.”  Obi said it will be a big relief the day international flight lands at Enugu Airport because that will change everything. Beside, in his view, the second Niger Bridge will open up trade; and work on erosion sites in the South East is also important, “otherwise we will be wiped away.” He noted that the ability of each zone to get what belongs to it depends on its ability to come together, and not necessarily on the platform of a  particular political party, otherwise the South West now controlled by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) could not have got anything.  He counselled that the first thing the Igbo need do is come together, love one another, other and acknowledge reality.