The ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, yesterday replied former Federal Capital Territory, FCT Minister, Malam Nasir el-Rufai for criticising the party's decision to zone the 2011 Presidency to the North.
Rufai had described the PDP's provision for rotational presidency in its constitution as akin to 'insanity'.
But the PDP yesterday said Rufai's comment was not only borne out of ignorance but that he was suffering from a common ailment of "talking before thinking."
The National Legal Adviser to the ruling PDP, Chief Olusola Oke who spoke with Vanguard yesterday explained why PDP made provision for rotational presidency in its constitution and argued that contrary to the popular view, he said the provision was not in conflict with the provisions of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on qualification for Presidency.
Said he: "In conflict, what is not prohibited is permitted. The 1999 constitution never prohibited rotation.
"It only says every Nigerian has the right to aspire and we have not said every Nigerian does not have the right. All we said is that it is turn by turn. We think it will bring orderliness. We think it will bring fairness.
"You will recall that the South West people have been agitating for participation in governance of this country at the highest level for decades. It was not possible.
"But now, we have orderliness in the system when every Nigerian knows that it is his turn to produce president of the country.
"And you cannot convince me that for every region or zone, you cannot get somebody who can be a good president. So I don't see it as violating the provisions of the constitution. "Rather, the provision in our constitution brings orderliness, fairness, equity and justice into our system," he added.
But El-rufai had said the provision was akin to insanity. Quoting renowned Physicist, Albert Eistein, who said "it amounts to insanity to keep doing the same thing and expect different result", el-Rufai told a national daily (Not Vanguard) that zoning had failed the country in the past and that there was no reason why it should be foisted on Nigerians again.
He said if the arrangement had not given Nigeria the best leadership and yet we still want to continue with it, "the logical conclusion is that we do not desire the best leadership and are satisfied with mediocrity."
He had added: "My opinion is that popularity with the electorate in a free and fair election should be the sole basis for winning elective positions and merit should likewise be the sole basis for appointive positions."
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Nigeria is infected with a virus! And we all know what the virus is called, dont we? It is the PDP virus and there is no known cure for this deadly condition except total eradication in free and fair elections. This virus clearly affects the whole body politic but particularly the brain function where powers of reason and logical thought are seriously impaired, if not destroyed forever. How else could a normal human beings talk such blatant nonsense? That zoning the presidency is fairness, think how bad things must be when you are calling a system-where the most competent hands have become an onlooker-fair. Let look at what this disease called zoning is doing to our country. Let look at the consequences of zoning in a country that was five years better than today not in the standpoint of the self-interest of a few idiots who lack the ability to distinguish good from evil. They have no more inherent morality than animals do. They have no souls. They have only the ability to recognize what is trendy at the moment; otherwise which system that is fair would not represent the interest of the majority of Nigerians? Which good system is not about gaining the peoples heart? The truth is that, the moment a free and fair election is allow in our country and these mediocre in PDP who are lust to power are wipe out of the science, everything falls into place.
Only an insane person will pick issues with Malam El Rufai's words. Is PDP a mad house with a bunch of insane people? PDP has no agenda for this nation except to continue a merry go round, recycling inept bunch of treasury looters. For PDP Nigeria is a fair. They take turns to loot and steal as the nation crumbles and dies. From the South West to the Hausa Fulani North and back. The man talking is from the South West, they have had their turn next is their brother from the far north and back to them. Why can't it become Jonathan's turn? PDP tells us why it cannot be Jonathan's turn? Is he not Nigerian? Are the rest of Nigerians not Nigerians. The Nigeria you hope to rule for 50 years will cease to exist before your very eyes since you have chosen to play the ostrich and pretend that you do not see the fire burning across the land.
Oooooh, please shut-up Mr Rufai!
I would not expect anything different from PDP over El-Rufai's brilliant comments. PDP will not stop putting their legs in their mouth, after all they have run out of ideas on how to fix myriad problems plaguing Nigeria today supporting exactly what El-Rufai said. In the mist of unprecendented sleaze bazaar being perpetrated by PDP government, for them all status quo should be maintained as long as their selfish interests are protected.
For goodness sake what's this legal subterfuge the PDP legal adviser is foisting on Nigerians? So zoning does not contradict the constitutional freedom to stand election? Is any individual member of the PDP outside the zoned area free to contest the party primaries? If that individual wins will he become the party's flagbearer inspite of the party's zoning? Cut the crap man! who are you trying to fool? Your zoning formula is backward,ultra- conservative and anti-progress.It has never produced anything but mediocres.You need to see how poorly our Presidents perfom at international fori on improptu interviews. Go watch Jonathan interview on CNN.Or any of Obasanjo or Shagari interviews. Do you think Donald Duke or El Rufai would have performed that poorly? No ! You do not seem to know how much harm this mediocre 'zoned' leaders do to our image abroad. If you have a problem with El-Rufai calling it insane,how about calling it 'zombie'? Is that more comforting? Well zoned philosophy has only produced zombies thus far.Scarp the crap now!
Yinka Ogunsakin
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