Former national publicity secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Olisa Metuh has advised the party’s zoning committee not to shut the door against any aspirant in the name of zoning.
According to Metuh, PDP will be going into the 2023 general election as an opposition party and as such must tread carefully before taking a position on the sensitive issue.
In a letter addressed to the 37-man committee chaired by Benue state governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom, Metuh said opening the race to qualified party members regardless of geo-political zone, would deepen conversation across board, preparatory to the Presidential primaries.
The letter read: “History beckons on each and every one of you to take a decision that will not only stabilize our party but also showcase the readiness of our party for the 2023 elections.
“The choice before you today is between adhering to the principles of equity, fairness and natural justice or plainly focusing on the task of winning an election as an opposition party. Indeed, they are inseparable and none can be discarded for the other.
“There have been arguments about the fairness of zoning to the south after eight years of the Buhari Presidency. There are also counter-arguments of the North having ruled for only two years and nine months out of 16 years of PDP in power and therefore deserves its own fair share of presidential candidacy after only two attempts(2007 and 2019) as opposed to the four by the south(1999, 2003, 2011 and 2015).
“Notwithstanding the merits of either side of the divide, most Nigerians hold only one truth as self evident at this time of our political development: that in good conscience and for equity and fairness, it is really the turn of the South-East to produce the next President of Nigeria.
“The South-East zone on its own has thrown up very quality candidates and in reality, no Nigerian can question the proven tract record of prudence and accountability of Mr Peter Obi in managing an economy or the leadership qualities in service delivery of Senator Pius Anyim. It is therefore clear that the South-East of PDP deserves and is actually ready to deliver our country out of the present doldrums.
“However, oftentimes, what is desirable may not be achievable and therefore there is need for the PDP to thread carefully and be sensitive on how to tackle the North where the All Progressives Congress, APC, controls 14 states as opposed to only four states by us. In 2015, we adopted sole candidacy and dampened the morale of members to openly campaign for the PDP.
“The real argument therefore is that our party is built on the ideals of our founding fathers and that the principles of equity, fairness and natural justice appear non-negotiable at every stage of our development.
“Even the argument that the preamble provides for zoning of offices cannot ignore the same preamble that stated, ‘prompted by a firm conviction that the enthronement of a moral social order will result in the spiritual regeneration of the nation.’
“It may therefore appear inequitable, unfair and repugnant to natural justice for a decent and noble party like the PDP, having allowed individuals to campaign for such a long period with the attendant human and material cost, to undemocratically truncate their aspiration with zoning at this late hour.
“Are we still enthroning a moral social order that will result in the spiritual regeneration of the nation or are we engaging in an act capable of breeding discontent, disharmony and disaffection by those unfairly disadvantaged by taking a good policy at a very late hour?
“For the records, the 2019 zoning to the North was done well ahead of the primaries and no member from the South complained of having suffered untold hardship on that account.”
Going down memory lane, Metuh urged the PDP to remember “the sad events of 2013 and 2014 where some of our founding members were encouraged to leave by outright denial of equal opportunities and other similar actions done with impunity of power. I remember the cases of Governor Ortom, Chief Banabas Gemade, Governor Tambuwal, ex-governors Wamako, Nyako and many orders.”
He continued: “Nothing should be done to appear to take us back to such a period of arrogance of power especially as we are in opposition.
“We are faced with a ruling party that appear to be re-organising. They have taken good political hands from us and promoted them to the highest positions not minding any emotional blackmail.
“Just this morning, the Presidency is already mocking us with complaints of our absorbing our former members. I believe the APC is actually frightened of the potency of our former leaders who have fully returned to our party. We should not play into the hands of conspiratorial tactics of our competition, the APC.
“As a person who participated fully in organizing our resistance at the height of the popularity of APC; one who suffered greatly at great human and material costs, including denial of my liberty and freedom, as the longest serving elected member of the National Executive Committee of the PDP in history and one who has served as ex-officio member of the NEC, zonal youth leader, national auditor, national vice chairman and national publicity secretary, I plead that none of you should fall into the temptation of attempting to zone offices at this late hour.”
Meanwhile, the Agaka Isale community Development Association, yesterday, obtained the expression of interest and nomination forms for Ibrahim Ajia to represent them as a member of the House of Representatives for Asa/llorin West Federal Constituency.
President of the association, Yusuf Aloba said: “We have endorsed him and we have contributed to pick up the nomination forms for him because of his sacrifices for the community and the people. He has all the qualities needed to provide quality representation for us at the green chamber. He is well educated, exposed and connected enough to attract huge dividends of democracy to our constituency.”
