The Sun
By Chukwudi Nweje, Lagos and Oluseye Ojo, Ibadan
Pan Yoruba socio- political organisation, Afenifere, pan Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Yoruba Council of Elders and the Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF) have lashed out at Yobe State governor, Mai Bala Buni over a statement credited to him that the All Progressives Congress (APC), had yet to zone its political offices for 2023.
Buni, who is Chairman APC Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) was quoted in a statement signed by his Director General, Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu, on Wednesday, as saying that reports that the presidential slot was zoned to the South were “false, baseless and unfounded.”
The APC was reported to also pooh-poohed the list on the zoning of party offices in circulation ahead of its national convention, and described it as fake news.
However, Afenifere, Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, YCE, MBF and Pan Niger Delta Forum, (PANDEF) have insisted that all the political parties should zone their presidential ticket to the south in 2023.
The groups insisted that parties that fail to present Southerners as presidential candidates would jettison votes from the South.
Afenifere National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, said: “Our position is that the presidency should go to the South in 2023. In fact, we have said that all political parties should zone their presidential ticket to the South. That remains our position.”
However, Publicity Secretary of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Alex Ogbonnia, said the political parties should specifically zone their presidential ticket to the South East for equity, justice and fair play.
Ogbonnia further said that Nigeria currently sits in “a precarious balance” and that Gov Buni’s assertion that the presidential ticket has not been zoned further threatened the peace and continued corporate existence of Nigeria.
