Zoning is taking Nigeria backward – Sule Lamido

Doubts Jonathan’s PDP membership Mocks Buhari’s subsidy removal plan

A former governor of Jigawa State and stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Sule Lamido, has said zoning the leadership of the country to a particular region will bring setback to the nation.

Speaking to BBC Hausa on Sunday, Lamido advised political parties and leaders in the country to work towards the unity and progress of Nigeria and not focus on who gets what in power positions.

He said, “Anybody that is ready and committed to making Nigeria great should be encouraged and supported wherever he comes from. I don’t mind his tribe, his religion or region, that is the person we should all support. Look at our country today, where has the zoning taken us to?”

The former governor also mocked President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s move to remove fuel subsidies.

He said, “I always laugh with excitement about this issue of subsidy removal by this government. Buhari and his party (APC) has been slashing the past governments about fuel subsidy. He said it was a scam and that Nigerians were being defrauded and so on, but look at them now.

“This man ruled Nigeria 20 years ago, he served as minister of petroleum and he wants to tell us that he doesn’t know what petroleum subsidy is all about? A former minister of petroleum to tell you that he doesn’t know about fuel subsidy…He just did it to get votes.”

Lamido also opened up on their recent visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, saying they discussed ways of finding lasting solutions to the problems of the country.

The National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu; four former governors, including Lamido, and members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) recently met Obasanjo in Abeokuta.

When asked whether former President Goodluck Jonathan was still a member of the PDP, the former governor said he doubted it since he had not been seen in any activities of the party.