By Dauda Reng Pam.
Though, power rotation or zoning may be undemocratic by conventional parameters, however, there is no universally acceptable practice of democracy as rotational or zoning of top political offices is meant to inculcate the spirit of inclusiveness and to reduce to the barest level cases of marginalisation and over dominance of the majority.
That is why the practice of democracy differs even in developed nation’s of the world, e.g, the United States of America, France, Germany and even Britain. Sociology, for instance, posits that positive discrimination is healthy, if it is hinged on the interest of the greater good of the society.
Every country has the liberty to adopt the most suitable model peculiar to its needs so long as it is in the interest of the greater good of society, Nigeria therefore cannot be an exception.
It is commonsensical to my mind that unity is promoted when conscious moves are conceived to heal national wounds incurred in the process of national growth, conscientiously to accommodate disadvantaged entities by making political concessions geared at restoring faith and cohesion in the attempt to heal the wounds.
No wonder, the founding fathers of Nigeria, in their wisdom had since identified these perculiarities hence the invention of federal character, quota system, reserved slots for students from educationally disadvantaged states etc.
This equally brings to mind, the birth of the 4th republic in 1998,when the northern political elements realised that, they have been dominant in the power sharing for quite a while during the military interregnum, decided to consider the deepening sense of alienation of the Yoruba people following the unjustifiable invalidation of June 12,1993 presidential election that Chief MKO Abiola was clearly leading and coupled with his detention and eventual death.
This culminated to the choice of a Yoruba president, Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, who was released from prison to come and contest on concessional basis to assuage the disenchantment of the south-west and eminent national collapse.
It is only logical and politically expedient that the southeast be given the opportunity to have a taste of the presidency, being one of the regions that is eminently qualified but yet to ascend to the podium of leadership.
This in my opinion, will generate a sense belonging, cohesion and togetherness of all stakeholders as
well as strengthen the bond of fraternity in diversity, thereby reducing the tension and crisis that may endanger the smooth conduct of the 2023 general election and equally guarantee the survival of Nigeria as an indivisible entity.
The time for the actualisation of southeast (Igbo) presidential ambition is now, let’s give a sense of belonging to all confederating members to the Nigerian project. Let all the stakeholders play down on their selfish and divisive tendencies in the interest of justice and equity and play low on the “majority carries all” syndrome.
Nigerians must imbibe the spirit of tolerance and fairness to one another and allow the totation or zoning of the presidency, governorship or legislative seats as the case may be.
For peace to reign, we need to rotate or zone sensitive political offices across geo-political zones, when it is due, in the interest and greater good of the Nigerian project.
If we must get it right this time around, then, we must be weary of desperate merchantile money-bag politicians in the up-coming 2023 general elections.
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