North/South zoning arrangement, a fraud, deception, says Udenta O. Udenta

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

An erstwhile  Senior Lecturer in the School of Humanities at Abia State University, Uturu, now Spokesperson of Bala Mohammed Presidential Campaign Organization,  Prof. Udenta O. Udenta, has described zoning between the North and South geo-political zones in the country as a grand deception and fraud.

While answering questions from journalists yesterday in Abuja, Prof. Udenta pointedly declared that if the South East  geo-political zone is not 

considered in the zoning arrangement, he would support a progressive Northerner like Bala Muhammed.

Bala Mohammed, according to him, is going to help mainstream his people (Igbos) in an inclusive governance model. 

In the words of Udenta O  Udenta, : “No South East son or daughter will encourage the sustenance and maintenance of Southwest hegemony. “Rather, I will look for progressive Northerner like Bala Muhammed, who is going to help mainstream my people in an inclusive governance model.”

He added, “zoning from the North to the South is fraudulent, is perfidious, and is a grand deception. 

“It means nothing because you can use that to do what makes it even impossible for the South East to seek and get the presidency.”

While pointing out that politicians from the South East have been supporting other zones, the former University don said that the zones that have had a go in the presidency shouldn’t come out this time.

Specifically, he said that Senator Bola Tinubu and Yemi Osinbajo, who are from South West  should not continue with their intention of contesting.

He said: “Bola Ahmed Tinubu has no business being in this business, neither is Osinbanjo or anybody from the Southwest. 

“That zone must be denied its claim on the Presidency this time around. So also is the South-south, Wike and the rest of them. 

“Jonathan was the Vice President for two and a half years and the President for almost five and a half years. Osibanjo was Vice President for almost eight years. Obasanjo was President for eight years. 

“So if you don’t zone the presidency to the Southeast, you have zoned nothing. And therefore I am liberated intellectually, philosophically or strategically, to look for a progressive Northerner, who can include the South-east in the compensation for power. 

“Critical thinkers have followed in that direction. Atiku said so himself that he will not campaign further if the South-south and South-west relinquish their claim and give it to the Southeast. Nobody spoke, nobody talked.