Apparently towing the line of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, that the presidential ticket of the party has been zoned to the north till 2015, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar yesterday said the zoning arrangement between the North and South must be respected. 

Unlike the former President Olusegun Obasanjo who denied knowledge of the zoning arrangement, Atiku said he was aware of the zoning. 

Fielding questions from the British Broadcasting Corporation on the issue, Atiku said: “Well, yes, I am aware of that agreement. I was a party to it, it exists and I expect the party will implement that policy and if the party decides not to implement it, it will also have to meet and review it.” 

The BBC asked Atiku further: “When you say implement it, you mean in terms of the 2011 election. Does that mean if they (PDP) implement the policy, a different candidate from the North would have to stand because President Goodluck Jonathan is from the South? Atiku responded: “That is the understanding definitely.” 

On the implications of President Jonathan contesting, Atiku said: “Ahh! I know it is bound to cause some political instability and that is what we don’t want at this point in time. We want to stabilise our democracy. We want to stabilise our polity so that we can develop.” 
Atiku cautioned further: “In the interest of stability, all members of the party should abide by its decisions of the party.”