PDP: Zoning good in Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, not in Rivers

I begin by recalling that Sections 7.1(g) and 7.3(c) of the Constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party,
PDP, respectively, talk about “promoting of egalitarian society founded on freedom, equality and justice”
and “adherence to the policy of the rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices in pursuance of
the principle of equity, justice and fairness.” They are emphatic on the need to rotate key political offices
among the diverse peoples and zones at the national, state and local government levels.
In Bauchi State, where the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Muazu, comes from, the party
zoned out aspirants from the southern senatorial district from contesting the governorship position in 2015.
The same was witnessed in Akwa Ibom, the home state of the current Chairman of the PDP Governors’
Forum, Godswill Akpabio. In its wisdom, the party entrenched this important principle of zoning to ensure
that justice, equity and fairness prevail.
But in Rivers State, this important principle is suffering and it’s threatening to tear the party apart. Former
Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike, is being empowered and encouraged by the First family in
perpetrating the inequity that Rivers people are witnessing, as I write this. Dame Patience Jonathan is
getting notorious and infamous for her meddlesomeness in the affairs of some states, especially Rivers and
Bayelsa. She must have known of the charter between upland and riverine sections of Rivers State. She is
allowing the ambition of one man (Wike), to cost PDP, the party that her husband leads, to be thrashed in
the 2015 elections. It is now becoming clearer to Rivers people that Dame Jonathan is the engine room
from where Wike draws his power and arrogance. She is also rumoured to be providing most of the funds
that Wike is throwing about.
Nevertheless, the attempt by the First Lady and PDP to impose Wike as the PDP flag bearer for the 2015
governorship position in the state will not fly and will not secure victory for the party. I know that many
decent Ikwerre people are not in support of another Ikwerre taking over from the incumbent Ikwerre
governor in May 2015.