|
PDP Zoning : What Goes Around, Comes Around Or IBB, Zoning and matters arising By Adamu Muhd Usman The media have been in undated with hearty sessions of comments and indeed intellectual psychiatry of the issue of zoning lately. In the ill will of the much dramatic peculiarity of the present political instability in Nigeria, which has gone to discard zoning arrangement in order to pave way for Jonathan to contest, after the fulfillment of their selfish interest of breaching an agreement, it the same people are now canvassing for zoning again. I have to commend Former Head of state Gen. Babangida for his courage, sincerity and honesty as a statesman to say the truth that Nigeria cannot get it right with this kind of attitude of deceit by People Democratic Party ( P.D.P). Sir, just a time. We have not gone far from the last lie. They shall soon know the truth, because History is always the best judge of men and events like a looking glass (mirror). It shows every one his or her time image. No matter how it is manipulated to suit a particular person, thing on purpose, the mirror will always reflect the image that comes before it. Zoning, is an art of shifting power between the north and the south, it is the zoning of the office of the President and other political offices to the various geo-political zones in a bid to balance the political equation and solve the political arithmetic. The former senate president late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo once said “It takes political sagacity to fathom the political arithmetic”. Rotational Presidency or zoning as the case may be was designed, orchestrated, and schemed towards curbing the hues, cries, and agitations of marginalization by some geo-political zones and to bring about peace and stability in our polity. Nigeria is a heterogeneous country with diverse ethnic nationalities and religious affiliations, so I think power shift or zoning as the case may be is the way forward for our country because of our differences in tribe, culture, language, and religion. When the north under the military regime held power for too long the south cried marginalization, and if you say the rotation is not needed, if the south holds power for too long on the bases of credible leadership the north will feel schemed out and will cry foul and vice versa. So to balance our differences, to settle our heterogeneity, and our ties to ethnicity, zoning still remains the best for our country. I am perfectly aware that zoning of the office of the president is not constitutional; but it is in the constitution of the PDP that propounded it. It is a gentlemanly agreement that was documented and for the fact that it was written down, agreed so it has to be adhere. But still it appears to be the best thing for our polity because of our unity and diversity in ethnicity. This is the reality. From the proletariat, there have been zoning in the federal character of Nigeria which appeared somewhat naturally before it was even advocated by the PDP inner caucus. Right from Independence Zik is from the south as the president, and Tafawa Balewa is from the north as the prime Minister. President Shagari is from the north and Alex Ekwueme as his vice from the south. It is all zoning as M.K.O. Abiola as president from the south while Babagana Kingibe is from the north as the vice president. . The military era zoning was also observed. Obasajo and Shehu Yar’adua, Buhari and Idiagbon, Babangida and Aikhomu. This is because you cannot fully divorce Nigerians from their societal and religious beliefs. Big multinational companies, media houses, NGOs etc have zonal offices within the various geo-political zone and you say zoning is not important. With zoning the hues and cries of marginalization will be laid to rest, there will be peace in the country and political stability. Regionalism and sectionalism is natural in our polity and to create peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding and political stability and societal changes between the northern and southern dichotomy. Zoning the office of the President, Vice President and other political offices is the answer to our political enigma. The cries of confederation, resource control, and the sovereign national conference is all borne out of diversities in ethnicity. The best way to maintain our unity and diversity in reality is to rotate power between the various geo-political zones. Unity in diversity is our nature; it is in our culture, our language, and deposition. The university is all about unity and diversity, so let’s maintain our unity and diversity and communality in rationality. That is the way forward of our country and that is where many stand. May God give us the ability to do the right things, at the right time and for the right purpose. May He also guide us aright. Amen. To this respect, no any well meaning Nigerian will admire, appreciate or support P.D.P’s present political flip flop. Yes. We all have to have a mission for a better Nigeria, a nation of just and committed leaders; a nation of faithful religious leaders, honourable politicians, fair journalists, compassionate doctors, dedicated teachers, reliable civil servants and a country with just judges also with loyal army etc. Also we have to pray and hope for a free, fire, credible and violence free elections not to engage in harassing, humiliating, depriving and intimidation citizens (oppositions) e.t.c by the government in power. O God inspires us with good conduct and save us from the evil of our selfishness. O God we ask for your love and the love of those who love you and for the love of every action which will bring us closer to your love and let not those who have no fear of you and who do not show mercy toward s us rule over us. Amen
|