Tambuwal declared that zoning has not eroded the constitutional rights of party members across the six geo-political zone interested in the party’s ticket to contest the presidential election in 2023.

The governor stated this during an interview with journalists shortly after meeting with former heads of state, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar at their residences in Minna, Niger State.

According to him, the zoning formula adopted by the PDP in 1999 was the idea of the political class midwified by the Federal Government to tackle the issue of June 12.

He said:  “The zoning arrangement made then was not made to completely erode the constitutional rights of candidates. There was no zoning, when you go back to our history, you can see that zoning is not our problem. The main issue is political parties throw up candidates for Nigerians and then Nigerians decide who becomes their president.

“The power shift in 1998, 1999 to south-west was to assuage a particular situation. Go back to the history of democracy in Nigeria, in 1979, NPN had President Shehu Shagari, NPP had Chief Azikiwe, UPN had chief Awolowo, GNPP had Ibrahim Waziri and PRP had Aminu Kano, there was no zoning. When you go back to 1992,1993 , SDP had Chief Abiola, NRC had Bashir Tofa. Even in 1999, Abubakar Rimi contested in the PDP, and in 2003, people contested against Obasanjo for his second term. Rochas Okorocha contested alongside late Umar Yar’Adua and Mohammed Gusau contested in 2007.

“I have given enough on the evolution of Nigeria for you to know that it’s not about zoning.  And,  for PDP, I recommend highly, we should be working on how to win the elections”.

Tambuwal also debunked  the comment credited to him that the South-South cannot rule now. He said: “I  have supported a South-South candidate in Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 and he won the election. So, how can I who had supported the South-South say the zone cannot rule. How can I who has supported South-South now say the South-South cannot produce the president of Nigeria,” he said.

The presidential aspirant, explained that if elected as president in 2023, he would evolve various ways to address the security situation facing the nation such as establishing the state police, increasing manpower as well as deploying technology to tackle the issue.

The Star