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1999 Constitution gives no room for zoning- Adamu

The Senator representing Nasarawa West, and Former Governor of Nasarawa State, Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, has said the 1999 Constitution gave no room for zoning.

Adamu stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday. His comment follows the call to zone Presidential slot to the South ahead of the 2023 general elections.

According to him, “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 check and you want a specific provision, that presidential office to be the zone in such a manner, please 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 go by price. 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.

The senator who also spoke on the division between Northern and Southern politicians stressed an age-long disparity.

“It started from amalgamation. There had been discontent; there had been disagreement between our politicians. Right through to the 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.”

Adam further spoke on the ban on open grazing and urged the federal and state governments to protect herders the same way they protect spare part dealers.

He stressed that the three tiers of governments had not proposed the proper measures to ease herders pains. Adamu noted that basic amenities are not provided for herders who will help modernise cattle rearing in the country. He added that “every Nigerian has the right to free movement.”

He added 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.”

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