2023 Presidency Zoning Crisis: Why PDP Leaders Must Apologise To Ibori – VATLAD

A civil society group, Vanguard for Transparent Leadership and Democracy (VATLAD), says leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) need to tender an unreserved apology to former Delta State governor, Chief James Ibori.

According to a statement signed by its national president, Comrade Igbini Odafe Emmanuel, and obtained by PlatinumPost on Wednesday, VATLAD said the apology has become necessary as Ibori was chastised for insisting that the North should be allowed to complete its two presidential terms in the 2011 election in line with the party’s zoning principle.

VATLAD said: “The ongoing 2023 presidency zoning crisis rocking the PDP and APC can’t be resolved without the leaders of PDP some of whom have decamped to APC, publicly tendering unreserved apology to former Governor James Ibori, who they attacked, persecuted and called for his head in year 2010 for insisting that the North, through the North West, be allowed to complete its 8-Year, two terms, till May 29, 2015 in keeping with the spirit of zoning arrangement after the unfortunate death of President Umaru Musa Yar Adua who became Nigeria’s President from the North based on the existing zoning arrangement in PDP and adopted by millions of Nigerians from other political parties.”

The group continued: “The selective prosecution and imprisonment of former Governor Ibori for financial crimes was part of this persecution he suffered, after all, some other Governors who were indicted of same or even worse level of financial crimes and embezzlement of funds belonging to their States are today being worshipped as Leaders of major political Plparties in Nigeria while others were granted State Pardon by President Jonathan.

“Nigeria would have continued in smooth and peaceful presidential elections as was the case from 1999 with each of the six geopolitical zones having its 8-year term, if some of these leaders of the PDP did not for their narrow and immediate selfish benefits, distort this zoning arrangement for the President of Nigeria and other critical National Elective and Appointive position in Nigeria.

“If Ibori’s position on this matter was not jettisoned, the North through North-West, would have had its complete turn till 2015, with or without President Yar Adua, and either South-South or South-East Geopolitical Zone would have been running its 8-year turn now on behalf of the South till 2023 afterwhich the Slot returns to North-East or North-Central Geopolitical Zone on behalf of North come 2023.

“It is also imperative for us to remind Nigerians that sadly, as we predicted then, the President Goodluck Jonathan Presidency did not at all represent or reflect the interest of the highly marginalised and deprived people of the South-South Geopolitical Zone as no meaningful Project came to the Zone during his Tenure.”

ALSO READ: BudgIT: Only 3 States Can Meet Obligations With VAT, IGR

“The East-West Highway transversing the six oil-producing States of the Zone suffered the worst abandonment during his Tenure. Nothing progressive to show in the Zone during his tenure.

” It is therefore mischievous or an act of insincerity for any political leader of PDP or APC to claim that the South-South Geopolitical Zone already had a six years tenure under former President Jonathan.

” In conclusion therefore, we appeal to patriotic political leaders of good conscience across Nigerian and particularly in PDP and APC to allow power shift back to the South and specifically to the South-East geopolitical zone that has not had an opportunity at all.

“The South- West and South- South geopolitical zones do not have the moral authority to lay claim to the 2023 Presidency after President Buhari completes his 8-Year Term on behalf of North-West Geopolitical Zone of the North.

” Finally, it is important to dismiss the claim by some persons that zoning arrangements are not constitutional. They are as clearly provided for in the Preamble to the 1999 Nigerian Constitution, as amended, which stipulates that the Nigerian Constitution shall be for the purpose of promoting the good government and welfare of all persons in our country on the principles of freedom, equality and justice,” the statement said.