By Demola Akinyemi

Ilorin—Two presidential aspirants of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, have condemned the zoning system  saying that it is not the agenda of the north and that it would deprive the country of the best materials to lead her in 2011 elections.

Governor of Kano State and a presidential aspirant, Alhaji Ibrahim Shekarau, and his counterpart, Chief Harry Akande said this at different interviews with journalists in Offa and Ilorin, respectively, weekend.

It’s not  a Northern agenda
According to Alhaji Shekarau, ”I don’t agree that the issue of zoning has given the north a bad name. ANPP is not involved. This zoning palaver is a PDP affair, because if it were a northern affair, why was I not involved? All of them were aspirants. Why didn’t they involve me or general Buhari, Ribadu, Bafarawa and others in different parties? The issue of zoning has only given the PDP a bad name  not the north. It is not the agenda of the north.

“In 1999 when they went into their boardroom to do zoning we were not there. Now that it is time for them to decide, why can’t they go back to the same board room, instead of disturbing us on the pages of newspapers castigating themselves?

“Its a clear indication that all of them are strange bedfellows who have disappointed us and should be voted out.”

‘Am best man for the job’

Meanwhile, Chief Harry Akande, who described himself as the best man for the job across the party divide, said:
“I don’t think zoning is good for this country. We need the best man for the job. Zoning brews mediocrity. We should be looking for a way we can be more united and not divided.

”We have to make sure that the new leadership is such that has the experience. I have 45 years of corporate experience. My international exposure and my pedigree are outstanding.”