Posted by By Sun News Publishing on
Abdullahi Adamu has confirmed that there was indeed an agreement by the leadership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to zone the presidency to the North in 2007.
Abdullahi Adamu has confirmed that there was indeed an agreement by the leadership of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) to zone the presidency to the North in 2007.
This agreement, he said was reached in 2002 during preparations for the 2003 elections.
He explained in Abuja that there was an understanding to have the North produce the president in 2007 after incumbent President, Olusegun Obasanjo had completed two terms in office in May 2007.
There has been a recent debate, particularly among members of the ruling PDP, on which section of the country will produce the next President of the country. The Northern members of the party have continually cited an agreement while members particularly from the South East and South South are also laying claim to the highest political position. In the past few days, both the forum of Northern and Southern Senators have taken on each other on where the next President should come from.
The Nasarawa Governor who has filed application for nomination to the post said 'there was an understanding on this, particularly in 2002 as we were preparing for 2003 elections".
He said it will be dishonourable for him to say that there was no such agreement since he was in the meeting where the agreement was reached. "I was part of the meeting where this agreement was reached," he affirmed.
Adamu stated that the current debate over the matter was not totally unexpected because as he put it, politically the times are difficult and politicians are seeking opportunities to maneuver and outwit one another. However, he said, "if you go to the nitty gritty, the fact of the matter in the PDP, we did say so."
Fielding questions from journalists earlier on arrival yesterday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Interenational Airport, Adamu debunked a foreign media report adopted by a Nigerian newspaper that he went to Britain to declare for the presidency.
He said he travelled abroad to honour an invitation as guest speaker at a forum organised by Nigerians in the Diaspora in Europe. The forum held in Zurich, Switzerland and later travelled to Saudi Arabia and Britain to honour other invitations. "I got an invitation way back in April" he said, adding "I left home on the 22nd and the forum held on the 24th."