*REMARKS BY GEN. IBRAHIM BADAMASI BABANGIDA. GCFR AT THE  NATIONAL STAKEHOLDERS MEETING HELD ON THE 15TH OF  DECEMBER. 2010

I have no doubt that this gathering is a  testimony to the fact that we all appreciate the enormity of the challenges confronting our dear nation today, and are collectively resolved to face these challenges head on. I am, therefore, praying to the Almighty to ensure that the outcome of our deliberations at thisgathering would not only lead to the eventual resolution of the challenges, but also result in emergence of truly democratic nation that is dedicated to the welfare and wellbeing of its people.

In commencing these remarks, I must pay tribute to Mallam Adamu Ciroma who provided great leadership to all of us in the process that saw the emergence of a consensus candidate in the person of my good friend;former Vice  President Atiku Abubakar, Turakin Adamawa.

Mallam Adamu's patriotism, integrity and love for this country are  simply too well known to be repeated here. It simply suffices to state that it is natural that when a nation is in distress, it turns to such a personality for counsel and leadership. The bottom line for me is that  this nation, and indeed any organisation or institution that operates  within its confines, disregards the wise counsel of such people at its  own risk. Mallam Adamu represents the sample of the best this nation has produced in terms of wisdom, integrity, patriotism and  forthrightness.

Our guest speaker is another great Nigerian who was able to rise to  the occasion when the nation needed it most. We all recall how he  exhibited remarkable courage and statesmanship in leading the  National Assembly to reaffirm our fledgling democracy during some ..of most trying times that faced this country. In Right Honourable Ken  Nnamani, the former Senate President, Nigeria has produced a  leader with a combination of wisdom, vision and integrity.

Let me also recognise the singular patriotism and selflessness of Gen. Aliyu Mohammed Gusau and His excellency, Governor Abubakar  Bukola Saraki for subordinating their individual ambitions in the  pursuit of greater national objective. May the Almighty reward them  appropriately.  The representatives of the various sections and groupings of this  nation are gathered here to chart out a framework for the resolution  of certain challenges facing. our country today. This gathering,  therefore, is not only a tribute to national unity but also an open admission that we confront challenges as one nation, and resolve  them as a single indivisible entity. National unity is the fundamental  value which brings all of us together at this event. The history of this  country provides a constant reminder that we can only disregard the  issue of national unity at the risk of very horrific and tragic  consequences.

It is, therefore, lamentable, to say the least, that some actors in the on going political process in the country are not only trying to put the question of national unity in the back burner; but are actively trying to undermine it by jettisoning measures that are deliberately designed to promote and guarantee it. At the risk of sounding repetitive, I would still draw your attention to the fact that our  principled insistence on the issue of zoning and rotation of power  between the component parts of this country is in long term interest  of this country and its people.  In our deliberations today, I want to urge all of us to keep at the back of our minds the fact that the issue of zoning and rotation of power is beyond the Northern part of Nigeria; it is certainly beyond the  Peoples Democratic Party as a political party. It is simply a national  challenge to come up with an arrangement that guarantees to all  sections of this country a sense of belonging. Jettisoning this arrangement, regardless of the excuse that is being bandied around, endangers not only the prospects of orderly political transition in the country but also its progress towards evolving into a single indivisible nation.  

It is important at this juncture to remind all of us that when the PDP was formed, it was conceived as a big tent that would house the diverse sections, groupings and interests of this country in an  amicable and orderly power sharing arrangement. The critical balancing fulcrum sustaining that arrangement is the principle of  zoning and rotation of public and party offices. This is, without any doubt, what is responsible for the remarkable successes that the  party was able to register in successive elections in the country. Any attempt to disrupt this arrangement therefore portends ominous prospects to the electoral fortunes of the party, but more seriously endangers orderly political transition in the nation.