Ohanaeze to Mamman Daura: You should have opposed zoning before Buhari became president

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex Igbo socio-cultural group, says Mamman Daura, President Muhammadu Buhari’s older nephew, should have opposed zoning of the presidency before 2019 election.

Daura, in an interview, had said it is better for competence to prevail instead of zoning for government positions.

“This turn by turn, it was done once, it was done twice, it was done thrice… It is better for this country to be one. It should be for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere,” he had said.

But Emeka Attamah, media aide to Nnia Nwodo, president-general of the group, said Daura has refused to uphold the principles of equity and fairness, considering that Buhari emerged as president despite contesting against other candidates who were more competent than him.

“He should have said this before the 2019 elections. They ganged up to push President Jonathan aside because they believed it was the turn of the North to produce the President,” he said.

Attamah said Daura’s remark betrays the constitution which proposes equity and fairness for all parts of the country.

He alleged that neither Buhari nor the service chiefs are most qualified to retain their current positions, adding that the president’s nephew is making such comment at a point when, according to him, the presidency should be zoned to the south-east.

“Having benefited enormously from his nephew being the President, he now wants it jettisoned because it is the turn of the South,” he said.

“Talking about competence or most qualified, was President Buhari the most qualified Nigerian when he ascended the presidency? Has he proved to be the most competent? Are the service chiefs the most competent among their colleagues to warrant their being retained beyond their tenure?

“Now that it is the turn of the South, precisely South-East, he is mouthing most qualified and competent. Equity is a constant flagship for peace and good governance. Without it, there will be continued agitation and crisis.

“At his age, Mamman Daura should stand for equity and fairness. Moreover, his stand goes against the grain of the nation’s constitution which enshrines equality for all peoples and sections of the country.”