2023 Presidency: Constitution doesn’t support zoning — Adamu

Former Governor of Nasarawa State and Senator representing Nasarawa West, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has frowned at the call to zone the 2023 Presidential slot to the South, asserting that the 1999 Constitution does not have provision for zoning.

Speaking while interacting with journalists in Abuja on Monday, Adamu said, “the Constitution says you can only become a President through the ballot box. Nowhere in the Nigerian constitution says we should zone any office. There is a federal character, that is the Constitution.

“The Constitution is being reviewed. If you want to review and you want a provision, specific, that presidential office to be the zone in such a manner you tell us how you want it zoned.

“You can’t just wish away a situation that is fundamental to the life of a country.

“You can’t talk of merit and talk of zoning. The issue of rotation, let’s just go by merit. Let every party find a way of selling itself in a manner as to garner the kind of vote to deliver the presidential result. It is as simple as that.

“It is government of the people, by the people and for the people. Why do you want to change it. It is wishful thinking only. We are not been practical,” he said.

Speaking on the division between Northern and Southern politicians, Senator Adamu said that it is a pity that there is such conflict and division, adding that the division did not start with this generation of politicians.

“It started from amalgamation. There had been discontent, there had been disagreement between our politicians. Right through to independence period, there had been disagreement between Northern and Southern leaders. This is not new.

“So every part of this country, there are some characteristics that are unique. But in spite of that, when it comes to national level, we have a way of aggregating our differences. It is my hope that there will be better understanding, it is my hope that between the Northern and Southern politicians, there will be better understanding and that is why the media is having a very unique role.”

On the ban on open grazing, the lawmaker called on the federal and state governments to protect herdsmen they way they protect spare part dealers in the country.

Senator Adamu, who said that the federal, state and local governments have not be able to proffer measures that will cushion the pains of herdsmen, lamented that there’s no provision of basic amenities to modernize cattle rearing in the country, adding that “every Nigerian has the right to free movement.”

On the recent remarks credited to some Northern state governors in support of the clamour to ban open grazing, Senator Adamu said, “that a governor in the North says yes to ban on open grazing does not take away the right of Nigerians to freedom of movement.”

Condemning clashes between herders and farmers, the lawmaker said, “I believe that farmers have a right to protect their farms against infringements. And animals invading farmlands is an infringement on farmers rights.”

Bemoaning the alleged neglect of herdsmen by previous governments, the first executive governor of Nasarawa State said that “Nigeria must develop along the line of due process,” regretting that Nigerians focus more on the country’s fault lines rather than genuine national concerns.

On the independence of Nigeria, Senator Adamu urged Nigerian to congratulate themselves for being alive to witness the upcoming 61st independent celebration of the country.

Emphasizing the need to evaluate the country based on increase in the number of infrastructures since 1960, Adamu debunked insinuations that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) government has failed to deliver on its election promises.

“Buhari has not failed because the problem of insecurity can only be minimized not eradicated,” he said.

He, however, traced the history of insecurity of the country beyond this present administration.