Iwuanyanwu explained that zoning was to ensure fairness, equity and justice, and to see that the position of Presidency “goes round”.
By Jeffrey Agbo
Chairman, Ohanaeze Council of Elders, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Sunday said that the current arrangement for zoning of Nigeria’s Presidency does not favour the South-East and North-Central.
Speaking at a meeting organised to inaugurate the council’s Finance and Development Committee on in Abuja, Iwuanyanwu noted that if the zoning principle must be observed, it should be across the country’s six geo-political zones.
He said this would give every Nigerian opportunity to aspire for the presidency.
The 57-man committee of eminent Igbo business men, inaugurated by Prof. George Obiozor, the president of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, was to proffer ways of financing and developing economic activities in Igbo land.
Iwuanyanwu said, “If you want to zone, we have six geo-political zones in the country, zone it along the geo-political zones. If you know you want to zone.
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“You say you are zoning it to the North and South. If you zone the presidency to the North, there is no way somebody from North-Central will get it, unless there is a mutual cooperation from the North-West. which is very big.
“And if you zone it to the South, even if a zone in the South has been president several times, by this zoning arrangement, it doesn’t stop them from contesting; which is not exactly what zoning is all about.”
Iwuanyanwu explained that zoning was to ensure fairness, equity and justice, and to see that the position “goes round”, adding that limiting it to North and South was against the interest of other Nigerians.
While noting that the North had more Local Government Areas, he said eastern states had fewer.
“Political power is derived from the party and from delegates, and if you look at recent elections, we have fewer local government areas and for you to penetrate to get other places, you have to have money.
“We were not there when local governments were created, it was created by the military, now they say when it comes to South, the South should go and agree and this is not fair,” he said.