ABUJA—ALL Nigeria Peoples Party,  ANPP, minority leader in the House of Representatives, Alhaji Mohammed Ndume, said, yesterday, that zoning of political offices was a constitutional matter and that the ongoing debate about the issue was unnecessary.

His explanation came as the business community in the South_South zone expressed support for President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the presidency in next year’s election.

Ndume on zoning

Ndume who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, said that though the controversial debate on zoning was purely a PDP affair, it was in the constitution in the form of federal character principle  which was enshrined in some party’s constitution too.

Noting that zoning was enshrined in Page 7, Article 10 of the ANPP constitution, Ndume said: “I am for zoning, because, it is constitutional and it is part of ANPP.

Zoning ordinarily is supposed to be a PDP affair but again, it has been given a different coloration by people whose sole aim is to create confusion.

“We are worried that President Jonathan has allowed himself to be distracted by this unnecessary debate thereby leaving issues of state to suffer.”

Alhaji Mohammed Ndume

Ndume who represents the ANPP in Borno, rated the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan low on performance, and advised him to give the nation dividends of democracy so that Nigerians would trust him.

Golden jubilee anniversary

He said: “We call on President Jonathan to concentrate and excel in his present job as a sitting President instead of seeking to be a presidential candidate in the next election when he has yet to deliver on the subsisting mandate.”
On the golden jubilee anniversary, the law maker said the reviewed budget of N6 billion earmarked for the celebration was still on the high side and called on government to use the money to provide facilities for the citizenry.

He added: “We strongly believe the amount earmarked for the celebration is misplaced, uncalled for, inconsiderate and reckless.”

The minority leader who urged Jonathan to release the needed funds demanded by Prof. Attahiru Jega’s INEC for the conduct of a fresh voters registration, also asked the President to sign into law the new electoral bill passed by the National Assembly.

South-South business leaders back Jonathan

Meantime, the business community in the South_South zone has expressed support for President Goodluck Jonathan to run for the presidency in next year’s election.

President of the forum of South_South Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Billy Harry, said in Port Harcourt that the community wanted him to contest because he was focused.

Harry said: “The South-South business community is encouraging President Jonathan to contest next year’s election because we have seen a man that is focused and is willing to take a well thought out plans to solve problems of the nation.”

While noting that Jonathan had taken time to brainstorm and get answers to some problems facing the nation, instead of adopting half baked solutions to such problems, the chamber boss said the President had used such methods to tackle incessant fuel scarcity in the country.

He said: “We do encourage him to contest because we have seen a level-headed man that his thinking is thorough.”

Harry, who is also, the National Vice President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, NACCIMA, urged the President to remain focused if he won the election next year.

He said: “My advice to him if he wins the election is to remain focused in taking Nigeria bit by bit and get to the roots of all problems facing the nation. Such issues include corruption, the Niger Delta, Power and others.

He should be focused in tackling these problems and avoid ad hoc solutions. The ad hoc solutions we tried in the last 50 years have not helped us. If he gets in there with support of all Nigerians, he should be focused in leading the country out of the doldrums.”