Former chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Samu’ila Danko Makama, has argued that the insistence that Plateau South Senatorial district must be allowed to produce the next governor in the state is not influenced by any personal consideration but for public good.

Makama, who is a founding member of the Equity and Justice Forum which has been at the forefront of a southern Plateau governorship in 2015, said should the zoning principle in the state be tempered with, it would set a bad precedence for future generations.

He said: “We hold strongly the view that the principle of zoning or rotation of offices as enshrined in the constitution of the PDP should be applied. Some people have accused us of being a sell-out. There is no such thing. This is a matter of pursuing justice and fairness.”

Former chairman of National Population Commission (NPC), Samu’ila Danko Makama, has argued that the insistence that Plateau South Senatorial district must be allowed to produce the next governor in the state is not influenced by any personal consideration but for public good.

Makama, who is a founding member of the Equity and Justice Forum which has been at the forefront of a southern Plateau governorship in 2015, said should the zoning principle in the state be tempered with, it would set a bad precedence for future generations.

He said: “We hold strongly the view that the principle of zoning or rotation of offices as enshrined in the constitution of the PDP should be applied. Some people have accused us of being a sell-out. There is no such thing. This is a matter of pursuing justice and fairness.”

He said governance in the state started from the southern zone from 1979 to 1983 and then 1992 to 1993, while the central zone ruled between 1999 and 2007 as the northern zone is about finishing its eight years, from 2007 to 2015, adding: “It is only logical and fair that it should now go to the southern zone.

“We have a committee on research within our forum which has found that an overwhelming opinion, over 70 percent of the population of Plateau State, favours the southern zone for the governorship seat in 2015, which accords with the party’s principle of zoning, and the forum resolved that the governorship in 2015 should go to the southern zone.”

Makama also dismissed speculations that his group has already declared support for an aspirant, saying: “I want to make it clear that the forum has not decided on anyone aspirant. Our research committee is also working to find out which of the governorship aspirants has broad support across the three zones.”

count | 42

For equity and fairness, the Southern zone must be allowed to produce the next Governor – S D Makama