The Bauchi State government says the zoning of the Presidency to the South by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poses no threat to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the 2023 general elections.
The State governor, Bala Mohammed, disclosed this even as he described former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as a man of wisdom and an elder statesman per excellence.
Mohammed, who spoke shortly after a visit to the former President in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, said the PDP would continue to strategise to rescue Nigeria from the present situation she found herself.
“The zoning of Presidency to the South by the APC is not a threat to the PDP because each party is trying to strategise, plan and organise. If the zone to the South, it is open to us to see how it is going to give us more electoral victory or if we put it to the North, it will give us more electoral victory,” he noted.
“This is what we are doing; the leg works, the permutations and so on and so forth. So that, at least, whatever we are going to do, would provide for Nigerians the opportunity to choose between the best alternatives.”
Mohammed explained his primary mission to the former President, stressing on the relationship between them and PDP were basically the essence.
According to him, “We know that Baba is non-partisan, we know he is an elder statesman per excellence. But, we are rebuilding our party to remove rancour, division and what-have-you. So, we still need him because his words of wisdom are always beneficial.
“So, I seek his opinion on some issues within the party, to close ranks and make sure that we provide Nigerians with the opportunity to rescue the country from the present divisions within and without the party which we have found ourselves.”
On the chances of getting the Party’s Presidential ticket to contest the 2023 election, Mohammed expressed optimism that “to him, Presidency is a consensus; a stakeholder and a statesmanship, its responsibilities. Of course, every Nigerian should try to contribute their quota to the growth and development of the nation.
“More so, leadership recruitment should be based on merit and making sure that everyone is carried along. It should not be based on the manifestation of separatists, the instruments and the disgruntlement feelings that can divide us further.
“Nigeria is too large and too important to be ignored. Some of us have benefited so much. It is not about me and my expression, but about the country,” Mohammed asserted.
E/Suzan O.
