Jonathan’s election was like passing judgment on zoning - ACF

[TheNation]

  President Jonathan  The Northern Socio-Political Organization, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) said on Friday that electing President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 general election was like passing a vote of no confidence on the principle of zoning and rotation in the country.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Forum, Anthony Sani, told The Nation that even though the south practically blackmailed the north into accepting the principle of power shift and rotation, it was accepted to foster unity, stability and harmony in the country.

While condemning those he said have started campaign for the 2015 presidential election, the ACF spokesman said Nigerians should learn to believe the President who said he was not interested in contesting the 2015 presidential election.

Sani said, “There is nothing new in what you asked me to react to, precisely because ACF has made it clear that it is not proper to start politics of 2015 within one year in office. ACF has said this is time for governance and not politics. Politics should wait for when the whistle blows.

“President Jonathan told the world in Adis- Ababa that a president who cannot make a difference in the life of his nation in four years is most unlikely to do so if given more years. I honestly do not know why some people are too eager to doubt Mr. President's words of honour.

“You would agree that the politics of power shift or rotation and zoning were espoused during the 1994-95 constitutional conference by the South which morally blackmailed the North into accepting it in order to foster harmony, stability, equity and sense of belonging across the nation.

“But by voting President Jonathan in 2011, one may not be totally wrong to submit that it is the nation's way of passing judgment against politics of rotation and zoning. As democrats, northerners accepted the verdict.

“But that is not to suggest the North will not play politics of 2015. I am sure the North will still play politics, which may not be on the basis of rotation or zoning,” he added.

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