As the 2023 presidential election draws near, a former president of the pharmaceutical society of Nigeria, (PSN), and presidential aspirant of the Peoples Democratic party, (PDP), Sam Ohuabunwa, has warned against the idea of jettisoning zoning, even as there are loud calls from some quarters that zoning should be discarded for qualifications.
Ohuabunwa, who is the Convener of the New Nigeria Group, in a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, explained that for now jettison zoning would not be a good idea given the country’s level of political development and ethnic diversity.
Ohuabunwa further asserted that zoning was still needed to ensure inclusiveness, where the interest of the majority and minority would be protected, arguing that it allows for the inclusiveness of every tribe in Nigeria.
“That is why I think the writers of the 1999 Constitution provided for the federal character. What is the essence of the federal character? It simply means that no single group or religious or tribal group should dominate the public space and office. Therefore, the federal character is applicable to the office of the president. What that means is that no one group should continue to produce the president all the time,” he said
Mazi Samuel Iheanyichukwu Ohuabunwa OFR, is a Nigerian pharmacist, politician and business executive. He is the founder and former CEO of Neimeth Pharmaceutical. He was the former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. He is contesting for his party’s ticket for the 2023 presidential election.