A Presidential hopeful on the platform of the governing All Progressive Congress (APC), Sen. Ahmed Yerima has stated that the current agitation for zoning was not only unconstitutional but a departure from established democratic ethos.
Yarima is also a former governor of Zamfara state, further said the Nigerian constitution except otherwise amended, has declared that every Nigerian who is qualified based on the qualification that is enshrined in the constitution should aspire for any office in the land; Governor, State Assembly, National Assembly.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the onetime Senator insisted that he will not jettison his presidential ambition as he hopes to present himself as the replacement for President Muhammadu Buhari.
“…as far as I am concerned, my constitution both party and national, has not barred me from constesting for Presidency. So no statement of any group can stop me. But, you see, if tomorrow my party comes up and say we have zoned Presidency to the South, I Yerima will follow it. I will then know that it is a decision, legally and lawful that is binding on all members of the party. But so long as the constitution is still saying citizens of Nigeria and APC Constitution is saying citizens of Nigeria, I am a citizen of Nigeria I am going to constest” he said.
Speaking on his presidential ambition, he said: “Yes want to confirm to you that by the Special grace of God, if I’m alive, I Senator Ahmed Sani, intend to vie for Presidential pffice.
When reminded of the outcome of Southern governors’ meeting recently, Yerima said: “Well, I don’t see any body language either as a law or as a document that guides us in politics and in politicking. As far as I am concerned, democracy is guided by constitution; by rule of law. It is not personal interest of people, selfish interest of individuals or the projections by other people statements that will guide our democracy. If you look at all other parts of the world, from America that is the leader of democracy of the world, citizens are guided by the document called constitution to aspire for any office.
” You see, I am a very religious person as a Muslim, I know that power comes from God first and if God destined that I’m going to be the President that will not happen. I have never left my party. I started with APP (All Peoples Party) we merged and become ANPP (All Nigerian Peoples Party) and later merged and become APC (All Progressives Congress). So I am a member of APC and I am not in any way thinking of moving from my party to another party. So once there is zoning, I know that my time is off but am sure that God Himself will decide not people.”