The Coalition of over 60 Northern Groups (CNG) has opposed the zoning arrangement by political parties, describing it as unconstitutional and a plot to intimidate the north from contesting for the presidency in 2023.
The organization also threatened to revoke the property of any person in the north who may decide to obey the one-month sit-at-home directive issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra.
Speaking at a press conference with the theme: “Our stand on the threats of destabilization from Southern Nigeria,” held in Abuja on Monday, October 4, 2021. The CNG spokesperson, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said the group aligns with the position of the Northern Governors’ Forum, asking the political parties to jettison the idea of zoning the post to the southern region of Nigeria.
According to him, the north will not be obliged to any zoning arrangement for elective positions in the forthcoming general election.
“We find the renewed desperation by the south to threaten [the] northern people’s right to franchise a deliberate attempt to bastardise democracy, cause greater instability in the guise of contentious undemocratic power shift arrangement and therefore unacceptable,” he said.
“The CNG after due consultation with stakeholders, leaders and elders has categorically resolved to firmly and solidly align completely with the position taken by the Northern Elders Forum as expressed by Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed and that of the Northern Governors’ Forum that zoning of elective positions is unconstitutional, undemocratic and must be jettisoned.”
The CNG spokesman further explained that the northern region is a major stakeholder in Nigeria, especially with respect to elections.
“What we are saying is that the Igbo in the North are not threatened. On our part, we are going to hold any trader that complies with IPOB directives in the North.
“We will definitely take steps to ensure that his business place is revoked because we have no problem with Igbo here doing their businesses peacefully.
“But if they comply with that order, it means they are also with the people that are actually challenging the state. We do not want any Igbo man to comply with that in Northern Nigeria.”
According to him, no conspiracy in whatever form would “stop the North from fielding a Northerner for the presidency in the PDP in 2023 irrespective of its recent body language that tends to block a northern candidacy by quickly zoning the national chairmanship position to the North which is unacceptable.”
