We were worried when Northern politicians ditched zoning, bought APC presidential form – El-Rufai

Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai said the northern governors insisted on return of power to the South.

Speaking on Channels TV programme Politics Today, El-Rufai said they were therefore terrified when some northern politicians, including the Senate president picket the president form.

“Our insistence on presidency from the southern part of Nigeria was purely based on principle. We believe that after eight years of President Buhari’s leadership, it is just and reasonable for APC to zone the presidency to the south.

“Zoning is not in APC Constitution and there’s no such written agreement, but there was an understanding at the formation of APC in 2013. That Buhari will be supported to be President and after him, the presidency will move to the south.

“Some of us therefore, were terrified when we noticed that not only one, two or more people we considered not to be serious contenders from the north, said they want to contest, because there was a very clear understanding that presidency will go to the south.

“When we began to see moves, including some governors, the Senate President and others being invited to buy forms, we got really worried because we believe that there is a basic principle, and that principle is centred around justice and fairness.

“So, some of us had to stand up for that, because those are the values of our party, President Buhari and northern political leaders. We keep our words. We won’t go against our words. Whether the words are written or handshake agreement, you should take them to the bank. That’s how our grandparents were. That’s how our parents were, and we are not going to be different. We are not going to squander 100 years of goodwill of people who trust northern politicians, because few people are selfish. “We had to come out unanimously and said no, and of course the President supported us , and insisted that presidency should go to the South,” he said.

He said it was this that made himself and some northern governors rejected the calls to purchase the presidential form.

“When governors Badaru and Zulum, Ali Modu Sheriff, myself and few others were approached to buy form and join the race, in the assumption that if PDP zones the presidency to northern Nigeria, there’s a need for APC to reconsider it’s position, Zulum, Ali Modu Sheriff and I declined, because what PDP does, has nothing to do with what APC does.

“We are the governing party and a northerner has been the President for seven years, going to eight years by God’s grace. The fact that PDP picked a northerner does not mean we should deviate from our principle,” he added.