DE-EMPHASIZE ZONING, SUSWAM URGES PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS

Ahead of the 2011 general elections, Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam has advised Nigerians, especially the presidential contenders to de-emphasize the issue of zoning to create a good atmosphere for the emergence of credible candidates at the polls.

This is just as the Director General of the IBB campaign organization, Chief Raymond Dokpesi and Senator Kanti Bello insisted that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should respect zoning in the interest of fairness and equity in line with the agreement reached by the founding fathers of the party.

Suswam who said this while playing host to General Ibrahim Babangida who was on a campaign visit to Benue State explained that though section 131 of the Nigerian Constitution confers on every citizen of the country the right to vie for any elective position in the Nigeria, zoning as being agitated by politicians is unattainable.

'At 50, Nigerians should begin to de-emphasize the issue of zoning and concentrate on who can deliver. General Babangida has done a lot as a Military President. The Aso rock and many other structures are his legacies. I think emphasis should be laid on these things he has done rather than on zoning because Nigeria has passed that stage.'

While expressing joy at the caliber of contenders for the presidential seat, Suswam however called on them to center their campaigns on achievements instead of on zoning with the sole aim of disallowing credible candidates from contesting the 2011 general elections.

'That is why I am contending that emphasis should be on achievements and service, not zoning which could deny Nigerians the opportunity of electing credible candidates'.

Earlier in his remarks, Gen Ibrahim Babangida commended Governor Suswam whom he described as a man of taste for his leadership style and urged him to sustain his developmental strides in the state.

He stressed that though he is new in the political landscape he is learning fast and solicited the support of the Governor and everyone in the state.