By ‘Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Zoning is in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Constitution, former National Secretary and later Chairman of the party, Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has said.
Baraje disclosed this while fielding questions from newsmen in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, saying, “It is clearly stated in our amended constitution.”
He pointed out that it was true that zoning was at a point not in the PDP constitution, but it is now in the amended version.
Baraje, who is newly conferred with the title of the Tafida of Ilorin by the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, was asked to comment on the position of former Vice President an currently a 2023 presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, that rotation was not in the PDP constitution.
The former PDP scribe, whose chieftaincy title will be formerly conferred on him this Friday said, “His excellency, our leader, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was saying the right thing, but he has forgotten that the constitution of PDP, has been amended, and I believe some of us will remind him of that.
“It is not in the constitution of PDP, before to certain number of years back, but it is now clearly stated in the PDP constitution that zoning should be respected and there is a caveat in the constitution which say that zoning should be respected for the purpose of giving sense of belonging to all members of the party and for an inclusiveness, except and only when a resolution of the National Executive Council, NEC, is otherwise.
“It is stated in the constitution, in black and white; it was reviewed in the constitution sometime around 2011.
“Although, before then, it was an oral tradition of PDP and it was even as good as being written. I met it like that when I took over as the party’s National Secretary in 2008. Even when it was an oral tradition of the party, it was highly respected.”
Speaking further, he said, “It was formally included in our party constitution in 2011, when we were reviewing the party constitution before I left in 2011.”
Baraje, however said that he was not sure that former Vice President, Atiku, was talking of the PDP constitution, saying, “I think what His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku, was even talking about was the Nigerian Constitution. He probably was not talking about PDP. If I got him right, he said ‘zoning is not in the Nigerian constitution’.”
Baraje was of the opinion that it is time for the North Central geo-political zone to produce the President of the country, having not produced elected number one citizen since independence, but however warned that the campaign for zoning should not be over-flogged in order not to further divide the country.
Talking about the conferment of the chieftaincy title of ‘Tafida of Ilorin’ on him, Baraje said, “It’s a great honour and a fulfillment too, to be recognized in my hometown. Although, it came to me as a surprise, because I never expected it.”
According to him, ‘After the announcement, I went to do my research on who a ‘Tafida’ is and the role expected of the holder, and I discovered that it emanated from North Africa, Egypt, precisely, and it was later adopted by the Hausa/Fulani tradition and my research also revealed that the full title is ‘Tafida Aiki Seriki,’ which means the service Emir’s is doing.
“That is one is a co-traveler of the Emir in the services that he renders. Therefore, that title is bestowed on an individual that is close to the Emir, understand the tradition and gives his life to the service of the community.
“I later came back to the Emir and ask: ‘sir, what is the meaning of Tafida? You are a renowned retired judge.’ The Emir said, ‘I expect you to come and ask me, because you are a teacher too and as a teacher, you are always learning.’ Fortunately, the Emir’s explanation was not different from my research and I humbly asked him that why me? Then he replied, ‘You deserve it, because of your various voluntary contributions to humanity and the community.’
“As if that was not enough, I got a call from the Sultan of Sokoto, two days ago, congratulating me and he said, ‘You are welcome into the inner circle of traditional council; note, that henceforth you will be consulted on issues on tradition, culture, not only politics.’
“Indeed, it is a fresh call for one to do more in terms of service to humanity and community development.”
