Babangida asks Nwodo to Implement Verdict on Zoning

Babangida

Barely a week after the judgment of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, former military Gen. Ibrahim Babangida yesterday wrote the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to apply the judgment.
The Chief Judge of the FCT, Justice Lawal Gumi last Wednesday ruled that although zoning policy exists and it is binding on the PDP, the court will not stop President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2011 poll because it is an internal issue of the party.
Gen. Babangida, in his letter to Nwodo, said the judgment had placed a moral burden on the PDP to comply with it, especially the portion that says “zoning is binding”.
He said whatever doubt the National Executive Committee had on zoning had been removed by the judgment.
The letter reads: “As you are well aware, some controversies have, for sometime now, arisen over the decision to jettison the principle of zoning as enshrined in the constitution of the party. 
“It is my view, and that, I believe, is the view of many public spirited, patriotic and responsible members of our Party that to do so would violate the provisions of section 7.2(c) of the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party, which provides as follows: 
“In pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.” 
 “And so I urge the National Executive Committee of the Party to enforce the constitution of the party in its totality in the forthcoming election. To do otherwise is to condone this attempt at a gross and deliberate violation of the constitution of the party. To do otherwise is tantamount to a declaration that the National Executive Committee of the Party reject the principles of equity, justice and fairness enshrined in the PDP constitution. 
“It means that they reject the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices and that they are not prepared to enforce it in so far as it relates to the office of President. It means that they are opposed to the creation of socio-political conditions conducive to natural peace and unity by ensuring fair and equitable distribution of resources and opportunities. 
“It simply means that they reject and are therefore not prepared to conform to the principles of power shift and power sharing by rotating key political offices amongst the diverse peoples of our country and devolving powers equitably between the Federal, State and Local Governments in the spirit of federation. 
“If the Party has become so helpless in the face of these gross violations of its own constitution by its officers and its highest elected representative, then many of us shall have no alternative but to reconsider our continued membership of the Party”, Babangida said