By Beatrice Gondyi
The Vice Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Rabiu Kwankwaso, has called on former Vice President Atiku Abubakar to respect Nigeria’s presidential zoning arrangement and step aside for the South, warning that fielding a Northern candidate would threaten the country’s peaceful coexistence.
Kwankwaso gave the warning during an interactive session with journalists at his residence in Kano on Sunday, where he also cautioned the African Democratic Congress (ADC) against creating confusion over the rotational presidency between the North and the South.
He said that although zoning is not enshrined in the constitution, common sense dictates that if one part of the country rules for two terms, the other region should be allowed to take over.
According to the former governor, fielding any candidate from the North will not help the country’s peaceful coexistence but will rather create confusion and disharmony among Nigerians.
He said Atiku should not disrupt the system by contesting at this point, urging him to support Peter Obi to complete the remaining tenure belonging to the South.
Kwankwaso recalled how he contested for president three consecutive times but decided to abandon his ambition to allow the Southern part of the country to produce Mr. Peter Obi.
“What is happening in the ADC will not help us. Some people want to create confusion by bringing a candidate from the North, knowing fully well that it is still the turn of the South. After Obi presidency it will return to the north,” he said.
“I sacrificed my ambition for Peter Obi because he is credible and from the South. We share common goals and ideology. We are strong and can manage the affairs of this country with ease,” he added.
The Kwankwasiyya leader stressed that for the Nigerian system to be balanced, Obi from the South should be given the opportunity to steer the affairs of the presidency.
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