Violation of Zoning System and Neglect of campaign promises by Ambitious Politician:
By Saidu Nosu Hamidu.
The 2023 presidential race is starting very early. Two years to the election, gladiators, spin doctors and armchair tacticians have returned to the drawing board in preparation for another titanic battle for power.
Zoning, which is an important factor that should shape the exercise, is being hotly debated. Unpatriotic elements are heating up the polity by trying to discredit the conventional arrangement. The consequence is indignation.
Over the decades, there has been a recurrent and sustained argument that the Nigerian state, like its counterparts in Africa and other countries of the developing world, underperforms due to lack of state capacity to deal with the contemporary complexities of governance. This article examines the state of governance in Nigeria and assesses the factors militating against the promotion of public good and effective service delivery in the country. My article draws data from secondary and primary sources, which include the authors’ close observations of events in Nigeria.
Governance and political leadership in Nigeria have been driven by self-interest and other primordial considerations, which take priority over that of the public. This can be seen from some ambitious politician who have eye in succeeding the incumbent president Mohammad Buhari come 2023.
“Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, has described the quest for zoning of Presidency to the Southern region of Nigeria in the next 2023, Presidential elections as unconstitutional “.
Yahaya Bello seem to have made the statement to widened his ambition for the number one seat in the country.
According to him “In the 2023 Presidential elections let the best candidate emerge who will unify and solve the problems of this country we are facing today, who will build on the legacies of Mr President. It’s high time the youth take over the affairs of this country.
I have always led from the front based on ability, fairness and justice. To be a leader, I will say let us be sincere.
Younger generations are taking charge across the world. It is high time we looked for a credible candidate based on merit and not by zoning”. This is direct indication of his selfish interest forgoting the promise made during the 2019 election campaign to his state.
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Surprisingly former INEC chairman Professor Attairu Jega who was part of the process that ushered the politicians to power States:
“APC, PDP’ve ruined Nigeria, don’t vote them again — JEGA
From their alleged failure to actualize desired growth and development in Nigeria within the past 20 years, a university don and former Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria, INEC, Professor Attahiru Muhammad Jega, has urged Nigerians not to vote for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, henceforth”.
The two major political parties have destroyed everything, and are like Siamese twins of corruption and that it is high time Nigerians looked for a credible alternative.
Though One is only slightly better than the other if the truth be told.
The APC is not fighting Corruption but to entrench the interest of the Minority Fulanis in Nigeria and to complete or finish the job started by Uthman Dan Fodio to enslave the South and to dip the Koran in the Atlantic Ocean.
The PDP cannot fight Corruption because it is part of their motivation for seeking power.
The statement made by both Governor Yahaya Bello and the former INEC chairman Attairu Jega I strongly believed is not for the betterment of Nigeria but for their own political ambitions and chances.
Both administration has failed the electorate in major areas: security of lives and properties, promotion of the rule of law, corruption, employment opportunity, education and provision of visionary leadership.The pursuit of good governance in Nigeria should focus on encouraging trustworthy and competent electoral candidates, committed to serving in the public’s interest. Disenchantment with the political system, especially among the rapidly growing youth population, makes the challenge increasingly urgent.
Conclusively, Zoning is imperative. It is crucial to national unity and survival in contemporary Nigeria, which is a fragile federation. Under the last two decade, there are widespread complaints that the country has become more divided by official favouritism. Its fragility in all ramifications, experts have warned, may be a prelude to state failure, disintegration and disaster. These are preventable, if reason prevails and if the Nigerian president, now and in the future, can truly be president of all Nigeria.
Hamidu Nosu is an intern @PR Nigeria kano centre.
