Respect zoning, Deputy Senate President tells Southern PDP

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, has admonished members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Southern Nigeria to respect the zoning formula, ahead of the party’s convention.

He, however, stated that despite the zoning of positions, any PDP member willing to contest any position was free to do.

Ekweremadu spoke with reporters at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday night, after the crucial meeting of leaders of the PDP from the South.

The meeting was attended by governors, National Assembly members, former ministers and other critical stakeholders from Southern Nigeria.

The Southwest geo-political zone will produce the PDP national chairman, treasurer and deputy national publicity secretary.

The party zoned the position of first deputy national chairman to the South-south, with the zone also getting the positions of national legal adviser, deputy national women leader and deputy national auditor.

The Southeast got national organising secretary, national youth leader and deputy national financial secretary.

Besides, Ekweremadu declared that Rivers State is a testament of good governance, with Governor Nyesom Wike a shinning advertisement for the PDP.

Addressing reporters after inspecting projects with Wike across Port Harcourt, Obio/Akpor and Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State, the deputy senate president urged other governors to visit Rivers State to witness firsthand the definition of good governance.

Ekweremadu said: “What I have seen these few hours of inspecting projects with Rivers governor reinforces my belief in true federalism. Nigeria’s best option is true federalism, a situation where every state will develop at its own pace .

“Any person from any part of Nigeria can come here (Rivers State) and reside, with access to the good things of life. I have seen street lights, good roads and vibrant economic activities everywhere, with new houses springing up. Government is working here.”