Map of Nasarawa State
Some stakeholders in Nasarawa State have called on political parties in the state to zone their gubernatorial slots ahead of 2019 general elections to Nasarawa North senatorial district in the interest of justice and fairness.
The stakeholders made the call on Sunday in Akwanga shortly after a meeting with the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Silas Agara.
They urged other political parties to emulate the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had already zoned the 2019 state gubernatorial slot to Nasarawa North.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agara, an indigene of Nasarawa North senatorial zone, had called the meeting to intimate the stakeholders of his intention to contest for the office of the governor of the state.
Chief Anthony Sani, the Secretary, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), and an elder of Mada land, said the zoning of the office of the governorship ticket to the zone by political parties in the state would promote togetherness and end marginalisation of the zone.
According to Sani, the Northern senatorial district is the only zone yet to produce a governor in the state since its creation.
Sani said “the gesture will foster togetherness, peace, justice and fairness’’, adding that the opportunity will be open to all ethnic groups in the zone who have sons and daughters interested in vying for the coveted office of governor.
“We are appealing to the state as a whole to zone the office of the governor to Nasarawa North in order to improve our togetherness and inclusiveness, because the problem of marginalisation creates problems and conflict.
“But if every part of the state has a sense of belonging, it will help in promoting peace, stability and harmony in the state.
“Therefore, we appeal to all political parties to field their candidates from Nasarawa North. It is exactly what happened in 1999 when the office of the president was zoned to the South West which Chief Olusegun Obasanjo won.
“Zoning is democratic and will wipe out marginalisation,” he said.
Mr Joshua Barau, another indigene of Mada ethnic nationality and a former Commissioner for Justice in the state, said the resolution on zoning the governorship position to Nasarawa North was a key reason for the stakeholders’ endorsement of the deputy governor’s ambition.
“The deputy governor called us to brief us on his aspirations because his aspiration is not personal but that of the entire Nasarawa North and we endorsed his aspiration.
“One of the reasons why we endorsed his aspiration is because he is from Nasarawa North and we want the next governor to come from the zone because since the inception of democracy in 1999, only Nasarawa North senatorial district is yet to produce a governor in the state,” he said.
Mr Umaru Kyuni, the President, Mada Development Association (MDA) Youth Wing, appealed for brotherly support from stakeholders in other zones of the state in ensuring that the next governor of the state emerged from Nasarawa North.
He explained that an entrenched zoning policy in the politics of the state would guarantee all sections a sense of belonging and embrace it because it would offer every senatorial zone a time and opportunity to play a key role in the development of the state thereby fostering brotherliness, peace, unity and development.
“We discussed and concluded that there is the need for our sons and daughters to secure the governorship ticket for the 2019 elections.
“After that we can come together as a community to discuss the way forward. We are appealing that for the fact that this zone has not been given the opportunity to rule the state.
“The next governor should come from this zone. There should be this brotherly spirit. Today may be our turn and tomorrow another zone takes over. We all need each other.
“Our hope is that whatever happens, we will have our own son emerging in one of the political parties. That is why we are appealing to all political parties in the state to zone the governorship to Nasarawa North,” he said.
On his part, Alhaji Mohammed Buba, a former Security Adviser to the Nasarawa State Government, urged all residents of Nasarawa North senatorial district to support Agara and any other politician from the zone aspiring for the governorship seat of the state in 2019. (NAN)
