North Will Not Support Any Zoning Arrangement By Southern Governors – Shetimma

Northern Nigeria will not support any zoning arrangement being propelled by the Southern Gov­ernors for the 2023 presiden­tial ticket, Yerima Shetimma has said.

Grassroots.ng reported when the 19 Southern Governors from South converged in Lagos to issue issued a communiqué where they agreed that the presiden­cy should be zoned to South­ern Nigeria in 2023 when Pres­ident Muhammadu Buhari completes his second term.

The Arewa Youth Consulta­tive Forum (AYCF) leader said any political party that zones its presidential ticket to any region is “on its own”.

However, Shetimma, who said the North will use its nu­merical strength to overturn any zoning arrangement in 2023, said no governor can in­timidate anybody into zoning the presidency.

According to him, rath­er than zoning, the North is insisting on merit and com­petence so that the best and most qualified candidate can emerge as president in 2023.

He said, “That is their per­sonal opinion and nobody can stop them from expressing their views. We are also say­ing that any political party that zones any presidency to anywhere is on its own.

“Definitely, we will not key into any zonal arrangement or partnership. They can also be rest assured that we have also taken our position on 2023 presidency and no governor can intimidate anybody. No individual or any group can intimidate anybody to say that power should shift to any region.

“We are insisting on merit and competence and we are going to use our strength as well as our man power in the Northern part of the country to ensure that there is nothing like zoning in 2023. No zonal arrangement will work.