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Kano State
governor, Ibrahim Shekarau has taken a swipe at the ruling Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) for allegedly plunging the nation into a
political quagmire by not implementing the recommendations of the
electoral reform group headed by former chief justice of the Supreme
Court, Mohammed Uwais.

Mr. Shekarau also
tasked the Federal Government to stop paying lip service to its anti
corruption crusade by revisiting allegations of fraud allegedly swept
under the carpet since the PDP assumed the leadership of the country in
1999.

The Governor, who
paid a private visit to Akure, the Ondo State Capital, blamed the PDP
for not practicing the principle of check and balances enshrined in the
nation’s constitution.

According to him,
the expected reforms in the nation’s political system would be an
illusion if the leadership of the National Assembly continue to treat
allegations of corrupt practices against notable politicians with kids
gloves.

He wondered why the
national assembly members have failed to tackle the power sector probe
despite the fact that some members of the committee were allegedly
accused of sharp practices while carrying out the assignment.

The Governor who
specifically referred to the eight years of former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, said the former head of state ruled the country unilaterally
with the legislators totally folding their arms without checkmating his
activities.

He said the problem
of the country is not only how to choose the nation’s president, but
the calibre of lawmakers we have in the national assembly.

“The PDP had been
in power for 11 years, we are not getting anything in return. The power
sector probe was being swept under the carpet and they are claiming
that it was a PDP affair. Money meant to bribe the committee of the
National Assembly handling the probe was put on the table as evidence,
but nothing was heard about it,” he said.

“Who becomes the
president is not the only problem with country. Though it is part of
the problem, you should stop blaming the president because 80 percent
of the senate and house of representatives belong to PDP. If credible
people are there to checkmate them, they will not lead the country
astray.

‘Obasanjo was there for eight years, he was doing as he likes and nobody checked him.

Look at the power
sector they said they are investigating, have you heard anything about
it, they have swept everything under the carpet ‘What do you expect
from these lawmakers when some of them were rigged to the assemblies.
The moment the root is ungodly, there is no way you can get it right.
God will never listen to you”.

Faulty zoning plan

Shekerau also
condemned the zoning arrangement of the ruling Peoples Democratic
Party, saying the arrangement was limited to the party .

“I am not a PDP
man, zoning is a PDP affair, it is the party’s palaver, it is only
members of the party that can tell you what led them to take that
decision in 1999. Once you miss a sincerity of purpose, you miss
everything. Myself and my party are not party to that decision.

‘we have been
hearing claims and counter claims, but as far as ANPP is concerned, the
issue of leadership is a matter of identifying the right people with
credibility who can deliver. What an ordinary Nigerian is looking for
is social justice.

“ The agitation for
zoning is as a result of lack of mutual trust, we must not allow the
issue of zoning to lead us into continuous mistrust. The more you over
play the issue of zoning, the more you are sending the message of
mistrust. Since our constitution do not support zoning, we must try to
preach to Nigerians to look forward for credible leaders”, he said.

Running for president

While fielding
questions on whether he would contest in the 2011 presidential
election, Shekerau said he had bowed to pressure from his supporters to
contest for the exalted position.

He however said that his decision to contest for the presidential election would be based on his party’s rules and regulations.

“We have a party
process and until my party presents me as their presidential candidate,
I am not yet a candidate. So, when the whistle is blown by my party and
read out the conditions, criteria and the time table, I want to let you
know that I will place myself in that process”.