Jonathan Flouted Zoning Arrangement

The Peoples Democratic Party has
confessed that former President
Goodluck Jonathan betrayed it with
his refusal to allow a northerner be
the party's candidate in the 2015
Presidential election.
It said the former President actually
broke the power shift pact, an action,
it said, led to the party's failure
during the general elections.
But the party said it has learnt from
past mistakes and would therefore
not take the zoning arrangement
enshrined in its constitution for
granted anymore.
PDP National Vice Chairman, South-
South, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, stated this
while speaking with some journalists
in Abuja on Saturday.
He admitted that Jonathan agreed to
serve one term in 2011 but could not
summon the courage to resist the
advances by some party leaders to
breach the agreement.
Ojougboh said northern voters
rejected Jonathan and voted their
son, President Muhammadu Buhari of
the All Progressives Congress during
the election, because the PDP
candidate, former President
Jonathan, went contrary to the initial
gentleman agreement that he would
govern for only four years and return
power to the North.
He said the north ought to be in
power for eight years after former
President Olusegun Obasanjo
finished his second term.
When his (Obasanjo's) successor,
late President Umaru Yar'Adua died,
Jonathan pledged before everyone,
including traditional rulers, to do only
a single term of four years, adding
that this was why he was voted for in
2011.
He regretted that Jonathan reneged
on the promise after assuming
power.
Ojougbo also said there was a
gentleman arrangement by the 34
'great' men that formed the PDP that
they would start shifting power eight
years to the north and eight years to
the south, adding that it was
enshrined in the PDP constitution.
He said, "So PDP had the first shot,
everybody cooperated, Obasanjo
became president. After eight years,
it was the turn of the North to
become president then problem
started. Some people started toying
with the idea of third term. PDP said
no, PDP members of the National
Assembly and other parties said no,
it will not work; wonderful.
"The PDP had to produce a candidate
and that is how Yar'adua came.
Unfortunately, Yar'adua did not
survive so the North said look, this
presidency is ours, we have to utilise
our allotted eight years and they were
right.
"Jonathan himself said he would do
only four years. Emirs, leaders and
stakeholders in the country accepted
that Jonathan would do only four
years so that the power can shift to
the North.
"When time came, a lot of Macapa
dances started; people started
putting pressure here and there and
people started encouraging Jonathan
to contest.
"Unfortunately, Jonathan didn't have
the nerves to say no, I will keep my
agreement.
"So Jonathan contesting meant that
zoning formula agreement had been
breached. The North didn't take it
kindly; they said no, this is not what
we agreed."
He said the allies of the President
and his loyalists, especially those
from the North-Central, also joined in
rejecting the PDP and the President
at the polls.
He said the refusal by the President
to abide by the agreement could also
be the reason why the PDP lost five
of its governors to the APC.
He said, "Even the Christian-North
that used to be very friendly,
especially the North Central, said we
had an agreement.
"Some governors, about five of them,
left the party because they saw what
was happening. So it was this
pressure that made the North now
agreed that they must take power
back, that it was their turn.
"Fortunately or unfortunately, only
two candidates were presented at the
election whether you like it or not;
Jonathan and Buhari. Buhari is from
the North, Jonathan is from the
South.
"The south had done more than
enough for agreement of 1998/1999.
So the North said look, we are going
to vote for our son whether he is
good or bad."
He, however, said there was
opportunity for the PDP in the future
because he believes that the APC-led
Federal Government will not stand
the test of time.
Ojougboh added that the PDP would,
however, have no hand in the APC-
led FG affairs.
Asked if in order to strengthen the
party, the members of the National
Working Committee of the party
would resign, he said no, adding that
they would all remain in office till
March, 2016, when their tenure would
expire.

THE PUNCH