Jonathan’s challenge to Governor Saraki
On September 27, President Jonathan finally broke his silence over the zoning formula of the PDP which generated swift reaction from other PDP presidential aspirants from the north. From comments by newspaper columnists and the attention PDP zoning attracted, it has been concluded by most Nigerians that whoever eventually emerges as PDP presidential candidate will […]
On September 27, President Jonathan finally broke his silence over the zoning formula of the PDP which generated swift reaction from other PDP presidential aspirants from the north. From comments by newspaper columnists and the attention PDP zoning attracted, it has been concluded by most Nigerians that whoever eventually emerges as PDP presidential candidate will definitely become Nigeria’s President in 2011.
However, more worrisome about this issue is the fact that some of the presidential aspirants have turned their campaign slogan to “zoning for Nigerians.” Hardly would you hear former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, and Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki talking about their presidential bids without attributing it to zoning. The reactions generated by these presidential aspirants to President Jonathan statement on zoning have further revealed the motives behind their aspirations.
President Jonathan stated, “whenever those talking about zoning come to you again, ask them, especially, if they are fellow aspirants like me, ask them their political interests in 2003 and 2007.” This is a question that one expects the likes of Atiku and Babangida to react to. But surprisingly, they remained silent on the poser.
Also the President made reference to Kwara State, where Bukola Saraki is serving his second term of eight years as governor. His younger sister is contesting for the governorship seat in the 2011 elections. “If the party has zoned the position, definitely, somebody from that senatorial district cannot contest, except the younger sister is from a different senatorial district.”
In its reaction, the Saraki Campaign Organization quoted the Kwara State PDP Chairman, Alhaji Yusuf Ayedun, as saying the party would provide a level playing field for all the aspirants. This, according to the campaign organization, gave rise to over half a dozen of aspirants from across the state to pick their expression of interests and gubernatorial forms.
One does not need to tell a primary school pupil before knowing that this reaction is not only shallow, but it further shows that the Sarakis lack the moral justification to talk about zoning of the office of the presidency.
This same level playing field to be provided by PDP in Kwara State that allows over half a dozen aspirants from across the Kwara state include Senator Gbemisola Saraki to aspire for the office of the governorship on the platform of PDP unhindered, is what others are demanding for at the national level of PDP. Whatever is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
They preach one thing and they practise another. If it were not so, why is Saraki canvassing for something at the national level of the PDP when he knows that he is not practising it in his state. Let the PDP National Chairman also provide a level playing field for all the presidential aspirants on the platform of his party. And let the likes of Saraki remain silent over the issue. Today, the Northern Union, a forum being led by Alhaji Abubakar Olusola Saraki, is campaigning for PDP zoning at the national level, a phenomenon which has been thrown to the dogs in his home state.
Apart from the issue of zoning, there is this mind-bugging allegation of arm-twisting against Governor Bukola Saraki by the former Chief Executive Officer of Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola. The former CEO of Intercontinental Bank alleged, in his petition to the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adeko, that the personal interest of Bukola Saraki contributed to the crisis that rocked the bank and putting the interest of the bank shareholders at risk.
In the last 50 years of Nigeria as a nation, apart from during the era of the first generational leaders, the North, as an entity, has suffered due to inept leadership from the region. Despite the industrious nature of our people in addition to being blessed with vast fertile land for agricultural purposes, the majority of past leaders from the region have done nothing but colonized their people using religious and ethnic sentiment for their personal gains.
There is need for the federal government to investigate the veracity of all allegations against presidential aspirants. Never should we allow people of questionable character to rule in this country as a President again. He who goes to equity must come with clean hands. Any individual with tainted record of public service or dubious character should be treated as a leper as far as the issue of public office is concerned in Nigeria. In responding to any serious allegation, there is need for the person concerned to present facts and figures and not to weep public sentiment that is fast fading away. Now, members of the public are wiser.
It is apparent that the emergence of certain individuals at noon, claiming to be fighting for the northern interest is nothing but an attempt to build a family political dynasty which the rest of us will continue to serve. From father to children and to grandchildren? May God Almighty deliver us all from the hands of fellow Nigerian colonialists?
Lawan wrote this piece from Wuse II, Abuja