Zoning: Frank Tackles Hon Peller Over Comments Against Atiku

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All
Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Timi Frank, has
attacked a member of the House of Representatives, Hon.
Shina Peller, over utterances against former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar on zoning
He described Peller’s comments as unfortunate and
irresponsible.
Frank in statement in Abuja insisted that Peller’s statement
was illogical, disrespectful and an attempt to stand logic on
its head.
Frank who is the United Liberation Movement for West
Papua (ULMWP), Ambassador to East Africa and Middle
East, berated Peller as a greenhorn in politics who clearly is
mistaking “club and bar business” for politics.
He stressed that politicians, especially those with vested
interest ahead of the 2023 general elections, must not only
show capacity and competence, but also be ready to
compete with the best of Nigerians irrespective of the zone
and party they come from.
Hon. Shina Peller, a current member of the House of
Representatives had labelled Atiku as an enemy of Nigeria
following the latter’s views on zoning and insistence to
contest the 2023 presidential election.
According to Peller, “Going by his recent utterances, Alhaji
Atiku has just proven to us again that he is one of the typical
Nigerian politicians who is ever ready to manipulate the
people, twist the fact and mislead people to satisfy their
political interest even if it means at the detriment of unity,
peace and progress of our dear country.”
Comrade Frank, said contrary to Peller’s jaundiced and
watery opinion, the former Vice President is right since there
is nothing in Nigerian Constitution that bars him from
exercising his right to contest elections.
He therefore called on all politicians to rather sell their
manifesto, show competence and capacity to lead the
country rather than hiding under the selfish toga of zoning to
gain undue and unmerited political advantage.
“Peller is a known friend of mine. It is unfortunate that he
descended so low in insulting the former Vice President. For
the records, Peller is just a novice in politics and so lacks
depth in Nigerian politics to begin to cast stones.
“Secondly, the likes of Peller only hide under the guise of
zoning to deceive the Nigerian people – especially
Southerners – just to have easy access to public office.
“Have Southerners not been in charge of the country before
now? What was their impact on average Southerners? What
did the average Southerner benefit in terms of infrastructure,
leadership and empowerment? Should we continue to
market zones at the expense of experience, competence and
capacity?” Frank queried.
The Bayelsa-born political activist said democracy like
politics is an open competition and thus all who aspire to
partake in it must come fully prepared – showcasing their
capacity and drive to serve the Nigerian people irrespective
of where they come from – as there is nothing like a
Southern or Northern president but rather a Nigerian
president.
“Agreed that issues related to zoning between the North and
South are playing out across all political parties as
anticipated, however, to resort to threats and insults is not
only anti-democratic but clearly outlandish in dealing with
this issue.
“The future of our country must always be made pivotal. In
achieving this, insults and threats as employed by Peller
should never to be allowed.
“Rather, we should prioritise consultation, dialogue and
understanding capable of inspiring the younger generation
and make them believe in future practicable means of
resolving issues like zoning, whenever they arise,” Frank
said.