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President Muhammadu Buhari has said the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) decision making process regarding its leadership and 2023 elections would be bottom-up.
He said decisions would be made by the party in a way that includes party members, not as dictated by anybody “just sitting in Lagos,” an apparent dig at former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
The president made his comment during his interview on Arise TV, aired on Thursday.
Responding to a question on which part of the South would APC support to control the presidency when he leaves office in 2023, Buhari said:“Should we allow the party to decide?” as he tried to evade the question on which part of the South would have the presidency in 2023.
He added: “I just told you we started from bottom up. And I gave the acting Chairman (Mai Mala Buni) the end of this month of June…to give me report on the convention we are going to conduct and then arrange the elections and started this from bottom up.
“So, members of the party will feel they are involved in decision making. Nobody is just sitting in Lagos and asking them what to do.”
When asked about his succession plan, the President said: “Succession plan depends on the party. We are going to leave it to the party. The party will sit and make a decision.”
Tinubu is believed to be eyeing the presidency in 2023 and has been involved in struggles to control the APC.
Zoning inevitable, says Oyegun
A former National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Oyegun, has said zoning was inevitable in the party.
Reacting to Buhari’s comment on zoning, Odigie-Oyegun said: “What the President said is what it ought to be. We are building not just a political party but a nation. Politics is all about inclusiveness although some Nigerians choose to call it zoning or rotation, I prefer to call it inclusiveness.
“We must learn to be as inclusive as possible. Every part of a local government, a state or a nation especially as multi-ethnic and multi-religious as Nigeria must build a system where everyone will have a sense of belonging, there is no two ways to it. Every part of this great country should be given a sense of belonging in terms of appointive and elective office. Zoning is inevitable.”