2023: Oyegun Insists Zoning Inevitable As PDP Bombs Buhari Over Defection Comments

A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), John Odigie-Oyegun, has insisted that zoning must continue to give every part of Nigeria a sense of belonging.

Naija News recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday had said nobody has the power to decide for the party on zoning.

Buhari made this claim while responding to a question during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday.

He further stated that only members of the ruling party have the power to make a decision for the party.

According to Buhari, the acting leaders of the party is working on restructuring the party and make every member feel at home.

Reacting, John Odigie-Oyegun, a former Edo State governor, said every part of Nigeria should be carried along in election and appointments.

He stated, “What the President said is what it ought to be. We are building not just a political party but a nation. Politics is all about inclusiveness although some Nigerians choose to call it zoning or rotation, I prefer to call it inclusiveness.

“We must learn to be as inclusive as possible. Every part of a local government, a state or a nation especially as multi-ethnic and multi-religious as Nigeria must build a system where everyone will have a sense of belonging there is no two ways to it. Every part of this great country should be given a sense of belonging in terms of appointive and elective office. Zoning is inevitable.”

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has tackled Buhari over his comment that those aspiring to be President should defect to the APC.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Kola Ologbondiayan, told The PUNCH that, “Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), does not pretend about his aversion to political contests. This explains why he left the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party to form the Congress for Progressive Change just to emerge unopposed as presidential candidate.

“Now, as president, he is working very hard to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, this explains why he is leading his party, the All Progressives Congress, into coaxing members of the opposition into joining the APC.

“For us in the PDP, we want the President to be aware that Nigerians are resilient people, they are feeling the heat of his mis-governance and the pain and suffering which the APC represents and are prepared to legitimately resist all forms of threats and intimidation in order to resist the APC and all it represents come 2023.”