APC chairmanship: I’m not aware of zoning, Yari insists
By Peter Usman://
Former Zamfara State governor and the All Progressives Congress, APC national chairmanship aspirant, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari has declared that he’s not aware of any zoning arrangement of the number one position in the party to any region.
The national leadership of the party has since zoned the national championship position to the North Central zone comprises of Kwara, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue and Plateau States while Zamfara State is in the North West zone.
Yari, who spoke to journalists after he met with the APC Senate caucus on Tuesday in Abuja to seek their support for his ambition to win the chairmanship context slated for March 26 2022 in Abuja, noted that zoning arrangement has not been helpful to the party and democracy in the past.
He said: “For instance, should the chairmanship be zoned to Northern Nigeria and Presidency to the South are we going to dictate to the zone who should be chosen, no.
“We are trying to break that jinx and embrace the real democracy”.
“I did not know any issue about zoning because it was not communicated to me, I only saw it on social media.
“I have already purchased my form and you know that it is the National Assembly that makes laws for everyone. Whether reconciliation or any other process, I have already picked form. We are ready to meet in the ballot box “
On insinuation that President Muhammadu Buhari has already anointed Senator Abdullahi Adamu, he said that it was not true.
“You have also been reading in the media that President Muhammadu Buhari did not anoint anybody, the Special Adviser on Media, Garba Shehu has since clarified that. We are trying to break that jinx, we must come through the ballot box so that we can respect the votes of the people not by picking.
“The President made mistake in the past by anointing Adams Oshiomhole single handedly, nobody voted for him, he was anointed as the national chairman and you can see the result today, do you want a repeat of that,” he said.
During his meeting with the caucus, Yari described the National Assembly as a symbol of democracy and the lawmakers as critical stakeholders in the coming convention of the party, hence the need to solicit their support to realise his ambition.
Responding, the Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege, who stood in for the Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Lawan, said Yari came close to occupying the Senate seat, but for the court decision which restrained him, adding that such should not be allowed to repeat itself.
Omo-Agege said Yari is one of the few contestants that have formally visited the Senate adding that having been in the House of Representatives and supported them, they will also support him.
“APC is at a crossroads. That is the bad news. The good news is that all the challenges will soon come to pass. You are a major stakeholder. You’ve serve as a governor and you know the problems of the party. In the next few days, continue to tour that part of peace.
“All we seek here at the National Assembly is a strong APC that will win the next election. There are so much conspiracies outside here. The PDP is praying to win the 2023 general elections, we are also praying and we pray God should not answer their prayers.
“You are a leader that can speak truth to power. You are a leader that fit that bill. We wish you success on the 26 of this month,” Omo-Agege said.