“The current agitation for zoning of presidency to the Southern part of Nigeria is not only unconstitutional but a departure from established democratic ethos,” this was stated at a press conference in Abuja by the former Governor of Zamfara State and a presidential aspirant under the platform of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC), Senator Ahmed Yerima.
Senator Yerima noted that the Nigerian constitution allows for every Nigerian who is qualified based on the qualifications enshrined in the constitution to aspire for any office in the land. He also added that he would abandon his presidential ambition only if his party, the APC formally zones the presidential seat to the South.
“As far as I am concerned, my constitution both party and national, has not barred me from contesting for Presidency. So no statement of any group can stop me.
“But you see, if tomorrow my party comes up and say we have zoned Presidency to the South, I Yerima will follow it. I will then know that it is a decision, legally and lawful that is binding on all members of the party. But so long as the constitution is still saying citizens of Nigeria and APC Constitution is saying citizens of Nigeria, I am a citizen of Nigeria and I am going to contest.
“I am a very religious Muslim and I know that power comes from God first and if God destines that I’m going to be the President, that will happen. I have never left my party. I started with APP (All Peoples Party) we merged and become ANPP (All Nigerian Peoples Party) and later merged and become APC (All Progressives Congress). So I am a member of APC and I am not in any way thinking of moving from my party to another party. So once there is zoning, I know that my time is up but am sure that God Himself will decide not people.”
While reacting to the resolutions from the recent meeting held by the Southern Governors Forum, he said everyone has to abide by the Nigerian constitution.
“Well, I don’t see anybody language either as a law or as a document that guides us in politics and in politicking. As far as I am concerned, democracy is guided by the constitution; by rule of law. It is not the personal interest of people, the selfish interest of individuals or the projections by other peoples’ statements that will guide our democracy. If you look at all other parts of the world, from America that is the leader of democracy of the world, citizens are guided by the document called constitution to aspire for any office,” Senator Yerima said.
Speaking on electronic voting and electronic transmission of results, he expressed hope that one day Nigeria would keep up with the changes in technology happening in the world.
” I support electronic voting. I believe when we were queuing to register (accreditation) without the card reader, what was happening? People will just sit down and write names and say we have these numbers of people. By the mere introduction of card readers, the whole thing has changed.
“You can see that you have your fingerprint and registration of voters online. The world is changing and Nigeria has to follow. We need to use technology as much as possible. As far as I am concerned one day we are going to go for electronic voting,” he said.
Suzan O
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