Political parties in Nigeria have been using zoning formula to field candidates for the post of President and Vice President of Nigeria.
The zoning formula gives each geo-political zone equal chance to be represented at the Presidential Villa which was how President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice Presient Osinbajo emerged as candidates under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But, the APC has revealed that it would not be zoning the post of President to the north for the 2023 general election as the north will have been represented for eight years in that post as at that time.
Many reactions have trailed this disclosure by the APC but the most shocking one came from the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who is currently facing corruption charges with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Lawal made it known that he can be president of Nigeria as long as the constitution did not limit the presidency to any part of the country.
The former SGF made this known today while speaking with The Sun correspondent.
“Every part of Nigeria can produce a president, a competent one. I know so many. Being a cosmopolitan man, I know Igbos not less than ten that can successfully run this country; I know Yorubas that can do, I know Ijaws that can do, I know Hausas that can do, I know even Kilba.
“Hey myself, my friend, I can be president of this country. I consider myself quite competent to do so from a small tribe of 300,000 people. There are so many such tribes that can produce good, competent leaders all over Nigeria.
“Even if it is in the north, if we say the north-west has produced a presidential candidate, the south-west had produced one, I don’t see why the north-central cannot produce or the north-east cannot produce just as south-south, south-east, south-west and even north-west can still produce. The constitution doesn’t say it is prohibited. And as I said, I believe every zone, every state, has capable people that can run this country effectively,” Lawal said.
He was removed from office after he was indicted by a Senate committee which investigated the management of money meant to assist persons displaced by Boko Haram.
Lawal was eventually sacked by the Presidency for mismanagement of government funds while in the Office of the SGF.
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