•••SAYS ZONING DISQUALIFIES ME
Former Governor of Borno State, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, has pulled out of the forthcoming National Convention of the All Progressives.
Sheriff told journalists on Sunday that he decided to pull out of the race because the leadership of the APC has zoned the National Chairmanship position to the North Central which disqualifies him as a true party man.
He explained that as a politician who respects the rule of law and the leader of the party, the President, he has to call off his intention to contest for the position in the National Convention fixed for March 26.
He said that it had always been his position that he would only contest if the President who is the leader of the party takes a position which allows him to be in the race.
He said that with the position the President has taken, only those from the states of the North Central can vie for the position of the National Chairman of the party.
Modu Sheriff said that he would only offer himself for the position on Saturday if the leadership of the party changes its decision.
He said, “The party has taken a position that the position of the national chairman should go to the North Central. Meaning, it is exclusively zoned to the contestants of the North Central Zone.
“Being someone who respects the rule of law and respects our leaders., no party can take a zoning formula where you have a leader of the party; in any setting where there is a government, the President is the leader of the party and the President has taken a position.
“I’ve always told you that I will contest if it is zoned to my zone. That has been my statement always. And today they have taken a position. I respect the President. I respect him as a person and as the President; he is my leader.
“He must have a reason for allowing the party to zone the chairmanship to north central…
“Therefore, I don’t want to oppose the President in any way or form. I respect him. I will abide by the decision of the party that it is exclusively zoned to north Central.
“Therefore, because of my respect for the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, and the party, I will not contest unless they’ve changed their mind between now and Friday.”