The President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, and a stakeholder of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Ambassador (Prof.) George Obiozor on Wednesday condemned the party’s position on zoning.
In a statement issued and signed by Chiedozie Ogbonnia, National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Obiozor was reacting to the decision of the Governor Ortom-led PDP committee on the zoning of the office of the presidential ticket.
The report states that the committee had thrown the party’s presidential ticket open to aspirants all over the country. Obiozor wondered why the PDP jettisoned zoning since the South and particularly the South East of Nigeria had the turn to take the leadership flag?
Obiozor noted that for clarity, rotation and zoning principles were engrained into the party’s constitution in 2009. Article 7 (2) (c) of the constitution states: ‘In pursuance of the principle of equity, justice, and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of the party and public elective offices, and the appropriate executive committee shall enforce it at all levels.’
Obiozor stated his displeasure at the shift in positioning.
“Such unscrupulous violation of the zoning principle that has been entrenched in the PDP constitution simply changes the rules of the game. It deprives the Ndigbo community the opportunity to produce a president for Nigeria,” Obiozor noted.
According to Obiozor, “it is a political blunder and betrayal given how this community has supported the PDP.
The Association, therefore, reiterates the position of the Southern and Middle Belt Leadership Forum led by Chief Edwin Clark. That any party that does not zone its presidential ticket to the South should not expect the support of the Middle Belt and the entire South,” Obiozor said.
“We should checkmate any political ambition that undermines nation-building. One role of a political party in a democracy is nation-building and for the PDP to shirk its responsibilities is an unfortunate path.”
“To avoid doubt, hardly any society can develop amidst crises. Development is a product, an effect that arises from peace, unity, and national coherence.
“The basics of peace, unity, and sustainable national development are justice, equity, and human dignity. In order words, to expect sustainable economic development rooted in injustice is mere shadow chasing.
“This is an irrepressible scientific, philosophical, historical, and moral assertion that may be ignored at one’s peril,” Obiozor stressed.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide urges all the Igbo presidential aspirants to remain focused and resolute because of the PDP shenanigans.
E/Suzan O.
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