As the debate rages, I must add my little voice before the storm that will surely leave huge dent and costly damage is finally over. Do I think the zoning arrangement of the PDP is good or bad (A friend asked me) my answer was wait till it is obvious Jonathan Goodluck prepares to bite the finger that fed him. Now it is more than clear Ebele is about to eat the greed pie baked by some Yes-Men.
As the debate rages, I must add my little voice before the storm that will surely leave huge dent and costly damage is finally over. Do I think the zoning arrangement of the PDP is good or bad (A friend asked me) my answer was wait till it is obvious Jonathan Goodluck prepares to bite the finger that fed him. Now it is more than clear Ebele is about to eat the greed pie baked by some Yes-Men.
Those that may want to abuse me for my position should first hold the keypads a little longer till you read my mind. Nigeria is a peculiar entity where many abnormal things appear normal. So in the abnormality of normality we are still forging ahead together as a country, working or not working, peaceful or not so peaceful, Nigeria has remained Republic of Nigeria.
Why do I care? Well the only good thing PDP has succeeded in giving Nigerians for the past 11 odd years of her existence is the Zoning. The merits of PDP-inflicted Zoning is seen everywhere in the country. Be it the Local government, State government, political party executive offices even now in some families, the Zoning formula is now used in allocating duties and positions these days. For that PDP has indeed achieved something. Ladies and gentlemen let us clap our hands for PDP!!!
Jonathan will be standing wisdom on the head if he fails to respect the hand that fed him. PDP Zoning fed Jonathan by bringing him into politics and somehow relevance. Let’s recall some history.
In the year of the Lord (1999) a nobody named Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan was a university lecturer (Don’t ask me what he was teaching to his students.... because I DON’T KNOW). Anyways according to the gist, he was picked up by the grand commander of the thieves known as DSP (you can make out the initials if you like) because the “boy-boy” position known by the constitution as Deputy Governor was ZONED to his side of the state. Fast-forward to 2005 when the thief was caught and impeached, Jonathan became the Governor as stipulated by the constitution. Again let us forget all the stories of his stewardship and the buried case of his wife’s boxes of dollars.
Fast-forward again to 2006 as Jonathan was busy getting ready to kill the economy of the state for a four-year full tenure, the Baba of election riggers said no it will never happen under his watch. At this time the same PDP the creator of Zoning had ZONED the vice presidency to the South-South as a pacifier for years of neglect. Again knowing how comprehensively corrupt the other emperors were, Baba said ah wait oh, let the ‘least’ among the thieves reign. Jonathan was called to benefit again from the ZONING. The rest is now history.
Today, Jonathan says the zoning that brought him to politics is the devil that has held Nigeria from development. He has commissioned town criers and the masquerades to go into the villages, towns and cities preaching NO ZONING. Leading these packs are Pat Utomi, El-Rufai, Fani Kayode, Doyin Okupe and other alarmist including Papa Clarke. Why am I telling this story? Well if others have forgotten, hell –YES! I still remembered very well how it all began.
Zoning is not responsible for the mal-governance we had and continue to experience today in Nigeria. People like Jonathan who have no clue what governance is about are responsible. They lack the attitude, the zeal, the intelligence and competence to lead. Period!
The advocates of NO Zoning are acting as if they just awoke from deep years-sleep, having had nightmares or seen vision shown to them (maybe by angel Gabriel) that Zoning was the promoter of bad governance. My friend El-Rufai now carries the message on his head, the same way he carried the YES-Zoning during the 2007 elections. Had he been in the golden books of Yar’adua I wonder if all these noise he is making now would be heard.
Every right thinking person should tell Goodluck Jonathan not to alter the Zoning formula the reasons being (1) He has nothing to offer Nigeria (2) He is a product of the Zoning (3) For the future of other minorities. The 1&2 need no further discussions because it is very clear.
The third is my concern. Given the structure of Nigeria, Zoning is not just a good omen, it is a sound concept that guarantee equal representation. The complexity of Nigeria and attitude of Nigerians combined with the power of the majorities made it such that a South-Southern or other minorities cannot smell the office of the president and commander in chief.
The minorities must not allow the ‘greediness’ of Ebele Jonathan to rob them of the Presidency for as long as Nigeria remains a Republic. All right thinking minority should wake up and ensure Jonathan gets away with his incompetency in 2011. Because he holds the executive power that commands the Yes-Men today does not mean people should blindly encourage him to mortgage the future of others for his own selfishness.
In your personal moments imagine what would happen if we say NO Zoning and Jonathan goes ahead to inflict another four years of lameness on us, then in 2015 the majority gets to power and uses its influence to frustrate other chances a minority will have. As Nigeria stands today even if (true federalism) is practiced to the letters, the President will still command enormous powers to control the activities of the nation..... why? Blame our culture. We are a people of foolish respect and ‘mumu’ loyalty. Those calling on Jonathan to contest are only exhibiting that culture.
The hatred between different ethnic groups in Nigeria today support my position why we should allow the Zoning arrangement to stay. A Yoruba majority will not vote an Ijaw man, likewise the Ibos not to then talk of a Kanuri man. The PDP Zoning formula is very correct and should be encouraged and modified because it is only through that everybody will have equal sense of belonging. Show me a minority that can win a free and fair presidential election in Nigeria today and I will tell you lied.
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Remember if we say NO to Zoning, it means a Hausa man can be both President and Vice president or a Yoruba and Yoruba or an Ibo-Ibo presidency. Is Nigeria READY for this?
Goodluck Jonathan, should go on his kneels thanking his stars that brought him this far, it is now time to go home honourably.
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