From left: Nasarawa State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Akwe Doma; Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, and Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamako, at the Northern Governors’ Forum meeting in Kaduna, yesterday. Photo: Olu Ajayi

By Jide Ajani & Emeka Mamah
KADUNA—THE  Northern Governors’ Forum, yesterday, failed to reach a consensus on the contentious issue of zoning.

However, the communiqué issued by the governors at the end of the meeting insisted that the 1999 Constitution did not bar any individual from seeking any office in so far as the person was qualified for that office and with prejudice to zoning.

Vanguard was informed by a source at the meeting that Governor Aliyu Babangida of Niger State, who is the current chairman of the Forum, in his opening statement made it clear that by the tradition of the Forum, whatever decisions taken under an ambience of democracy shall be binding on all states of the North.

No consensus

Although they failed to reach a consensus on the contentious issue of  zoning, they said, however, that President Goodluck Jonathan like any other Nigerian was free to contest the 2011 election.

Rising from their meeting at the Government House, Kaduna, they also called for wider consultation on the issue of zoning.

The communique issued at the meeting and read by  Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu read: “The special meeting of the Northern Governors’ Forum was held sequel to the resolve during its meeting of July 1, 2010, to allow members go back for wider consultations with stakeholders for the unity and progress of northern states within the context of a united Nigeria on zoning of the position of the president before eventually taking position on the matter.

“The Forum then noted that the desired wider consultations with stakeholders had taken place and that various positions had been taken by respective states.

“The Northern Governors’ Forum after collating the reports from all the 19 northern states and after exhaustive deliberations recognizes the following: The supremacy of the 1999 constitution as encapsulated in section 1.

“The provision of section 131 of the 1999 constitution which states the qualification of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Arising from the above, therefore, the forum acknowledges the right of President Goodluck Jonathan and indeed any other Nigerian to legitimately and constitutionally contest for the office of the president.

Forum on zoning

“On zoning, the Forum recognizes the fact that the issue of zoning is a PDP affair as contained in section 7(2c) of the party constitution. Therefore, in acknowledging the circumstances of force majure arising from the demise of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and subsequent ascendency of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to the presidency.

“The forum resolves that wider consultations should continue at all party levels within the PDP with all stakeholders across the nation to address the concerns of all in the interest of peaceful co_existence and advancement of democracy in our dear country, Nigeria.”

Earlier, Governor Babangida Aliyu, had said the Forum would neither endorse nor take a position on any candidate for the 2011 elections.

Aliyu who spoke at the opening session of the NGF meeting in Kaduna, said the governors were meeting to discuss the problems confronting the North.

He noted that issues such as unemployment, poverty and the collapse of industries in the region would form the basis of the meeting which had all the 19 governors in the region in attendance for the first time in the last eight years.
Reiterating that the meeting would not take any stand on zoning contrary to speculations in the media, Aliyu said the contentious issue was purely a PDP affair.

He, however, stressed that the governors would deliberate on national matters and “take responses from the states” in respect of zoning.

Governor Aliyu expressed regrets that some states in the region had been maligned in the media for either endorsing President Goodluck Jonathan for 2011 or not, adding: “My fellow colleagues, I am delighted to welcome you to this meeting which should have been held on July 22, 2010 but rescheduled to today, July 27, 2010 because of some unforeseen circumstances, not in any way connected with the inconclusive decision on zoning or rotation of political offices, as was widely speculated in sections of the media.

“You will recall that we took a position that we should go and consult widely with the people in our states to collect their views on the issue of zoning or rotation of political offices in the next general elections.

“It is amazing to note the intensity of the debates on the issue across the length and breadth of this country. That is a healthy trend in our political evolution for whatever happens at the end of it all, Nigeria must go on, as one indivisible great nation.

“Overall, national interest must be our guiding principle, while negotiating equitably for better life for our people who seem to be short_changed in the federal system.

“At today’s crucial meeting, we shall take responses from the states, and I believe that we shall all be bound by what the people say on the matter, because we are only the elected  representatives who Allah has saddled with the responsibility  of providing leadership and taking the difficult decision in their best interest.

“While we must respect the fundamental rights of the people to hold and express opinions, may I urge that we should always put the interest and the future of the nation first in everything we do or say, no matter the circumstances?

Simple majority

“I believe that we have agreed that we shall be bound by the decision of simple majority for the sake of our unity and progress of our people. There is no doubt, the issue at stake, zoning or rotation principle, has turned out to be one of the most contentious issues in recent political history.

“However, we must remember that politically, this generation Allah has now put the responsibility on our shoulders to chart a proper course for the unity, progress and the development of our nation and for the improved well being of the present and future generation of Nigerians.

“Indeed, to many of us, the issue is not simply the issue of zoning/rotation as is being hyped but rather the issue of integrity, honesty and discipline. It is also an issue of good governance, the issue of equity intertwined by pragmatism.

“We must, therefore, be courageous in taking decisions, wise in negotiating properly and sincere in our determined effort to get Nigeria working properly. This indeed, is a defining moment for us as a people and as a nation when history and posterity will judge us for whatever position we may take.

“I, therefore, urge each one of us to be honest, sincere patriotic and God fearing in presenting our positions and those of our people on the issue, while we leave the future to God Almighty, the all knowing, the most compassionate and master strategist so that our nation will endure to take its right place in the comity of nations.

“Let me conclude by reminding us that ordinarily the issue at stake is a political party issue, which should be determined by the political party, and whatever position is taken should be ordinarily obeyed by the party members, once due process is followed.”

There was tight security in the state, yesterday, as men of the “Operation Yaki,”state security outfit comprising members of the Armed Forces including policemen and members of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, were deployed in strategic areas to nip any crises in the bud.