Why I Support Zoning (III)
I know that many opponents of federal character or zoning believe that they devalues the accomplishments of people who are chosen based on the social group to which they belong rather than their qualification, but without it how could Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, a minority rose to the position of President today?
One of the best words to come out of the mouth of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in recent times was his assertion in VOA's Straight Talk Africa that Nigeria is changing and that an indication to that was that today we have a president who is from a minority and a Senate president who is also from the minority. Obasanjo noted that this development would have been unthinkable a few decades ago, but he failed to remind his listeners and viewers that both the president and the Senate president are all beneficiaries of PDP's zoning arrangement.
I also disagree with those who think that zoning promotes mediocrity in governance. I believe that God has been fair in the distribution of geniuses in this country and they abound in all the geo-political zones. There is no zone in this country that do not have credible and qualitative leaders that could be chosen at any given time that their zone is privileged to produce a president or any other leader for the country. The responsibility of a political party like the PDP is to find such Nigerians and give them the party's presidential ticket.
As a matter of fact, I believe that the issue of zoning should not be left to the whim and caprice of a political party like the PDP where the arrangement could be easily jettisoned by an incumbent president that want to perpetuate himself in power by making zoning constitutional. T here should be a provision in our constitution for the zoning of presidential office.
We are living witnesses to how some within the PDP used every trick in the book to prevent Jonathan from being declared an Acting President when late President Umaru Yar'Adua, was gravely ill. If we had zoning in our constitution, the north would have easily nominated one of their own to replace Yar'Adua when it became obvious that he cannot continue to run the country from the sick bed. It would have spared the country all the shenanigan that was the result of Yar'Adua's long absence from his duty post.
Zoning may not be the best option but it is the only option that could open the window of opportunity for great leadership to emerge from every part of the country thereby giving every zone a sense of belonging. To think that Nigerians would all of a sudden discard their primordial attachments and elect leaders based solely on merit is to my mind a big ask. Even when people use the victory of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the presidential candidate of the SDP in 1993 over Alhaji Tofa of the NRC, as an example that Nigerians can overcome sentiments in choosing their leaders, it should also be recognized that it was a bit easier for Abiola because he was from one of the majority tribes-Yoruba.
Those that annulled the June 12 election that Abiola won even if they were largely motivated by selfish interest, used ethnic sentiments in large measures to create atmosphere of fear and suspicion to ensure that the campaign for the revalidation of that election led by NADECO did not achieve nationwide support.
Ethnicity, religious bigotry, nepotism, etc are our present reality and I believe that zoning is the only option for now that can provide opportunity for the diverse peoples of the zones to serve at the highest level and prove others wrong who think that leadership is their prerogative in perpetuity. I believe that God in his infinite wisdom and mercy blessed every tribe, religion and race in equal measures with men of wisdom and sound leadership qualities.
Concluded
One of the best words to come out of the mouth of former President Olusegun Obasanjo in recent times was his assertion in VOA's Straight Talk Africa that Nigeria is changing and that an indication to that was that today we have a president who is from a minority and a Senate president who is also from the minority. Obasanjo noted that this development would have been unthinkable a few decades ago, but he failed to remind his listeners and viewers that both the president and the Senate president are all beneficiaries of PDP's zoning arrangement.
I also disagree with those who think that zoning promotes mediocrity in governance. I believe that God has been fair in the distribution of geniuses in this country and they abound in all the geo-political zones. There is no zone in this country that do not have credible and qualitative leaders that could be chosen at any given time that their zone is privileged to produce a president or any other leader for the country. The responsibility of a political party like the PDP is to find such Nigerians and give them the party's presidential ticket.
As a matter of fact, I believe that the issue of zoning should not be left to the whim and caprice of a political party like the PDP where the arrangement could be easily jettisoned by an incumbent president that want to perpetuate himself in power by making zoning constitutional. T here should be a provision in our constitution for the zoning of presidential office.
We are living witnesses to how some within the PDP used every trick in the book to prevent Jonathan from being declared an Acting President when late President Umaru Yar'Adua, was gravely ill. If we had zoning in our constitution, the north would have easily nominated one of their own to replace Yar'Adua when it became obvious that he cannot continue to run the country from the sick bed. It would have spared the country all the shenanigan that was the result of Yar'Adua's long absence from his duty post.
Zoning may not be the best option but it is the only option that could open the window of opportunity for great leadership to emerge from every part of the country thereby giving every zone a sense of belonging. To think that Nigerians would all of a sudden discard their primordial attachments and elect leaders based solely on merit is to my mind a big ask. Even when people use the victory of Chief M.K.O. Abiola, the presidential candidate of the SDP in 1993 over Alhaji Tofa of the NRC, as an example that Nigerians can overcome sentiments in choosing their leaders, it should also be recognized that it was a bit easier for Abiola because he was from one of the majority tribes-Yoruba.
Those that annulled the June 12 election that Abiola won even if they were largely motivated by selfish interest, used ethnic sentiments in large measures to create atmosphere of fear and suspicion to ensure that the campaign for the revalidation of that election led by NADECO did not achieve nationwide support.
Ethnicity, religious bigotry, nepotism, etc are our present reality and I believe that zoning is the only option for now that can provide opportunity for the diverse peoples of the zones to serve at the highest level and prove others wrong who think that leadership is their prerogative in perpetuity. I believe that God in his infinite wisdom and mercy blessed every tribe, religion and race in equal measures with men of wisdom and sound leadership qualities.
Concluded
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