To Governor Nasir el-Rufai, zoning arrangements across the geopolitical zones should give way to allow for competence in governance. One may not really understand the governor’s definition of the word “incompetence”. This is because for a serving governor to attribute malfunctioning of government apparatus and underdevelopment to incompetence of leadership, is he in essence saying even himself as governor is not competent? Or, are all those in the positions of leadership in this country incompetent?
Contrary to el-Rufai’s assertion however, it is certainly not zoning that produces incompetent leadership which currently constitutes the bane of our development. Instead, I am of the opinion that zoning engenders political equilibrium, fairness and equity to all geopolitical zones of the country. All over the world, election results have always remained a game of number of voters. Without zoning, a particular region of the country is capable of perpetuating itself in power forever on the basis of highest number of voters. There is no region in this country that hasn’t got capable and competent presidential and governorship materials. The challenge is the influence of the moneybags, godfathers and elite powerbrokers. They will not always allow competent hands to be there. They are so powerful. In fact, apart from God, the fortune of this nation is in their hands.
El-Rufai’s postulation cannot work under the current political dispensation in the country. The informal zoning arrangement that allows power shifting back to the South should be respected and not jettisoned. El-Rufai’s non-zoning formula is nothing but an invitation to chaos. We should give peace a chance. Any idea of proposing cancellation of zoning arrangement at the moment will provoke and instigate people particularly the minority to demand regional governments, resource control, restructuring and what not. It is important we analyse the significance and gravity of our utterances before speaking them out. The unity of Nigeria is of paramount importance. We should maintain the status quo by ensuring power comes back to the South after eight years of the incumbent.
Punch
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