If this recommendation by delegates at the National Conference is passed into law, many Nigerians will never have the opportunity to aspire to be Nigeria's president.
On Thursday, July 4th 2014; delegates at the ongoing National conference adopted a recommendation that allows for the rotation of Nigeria's presidency between the North and South, and among the six geo-political zones. Like many Nigerians I was shocked when I read about this recommendation in many newspapers, and online sources. My shock is not the news itself but the fact that such a ridiculous recommendation will even make it at the National Conference where at least I know we have some distinguished Nigerians there as delegates.
I have since read comments from many Nigerians through social media. While some Nigerians think it is a good development because it will guarantee that every geo-political region will produce the president at some point. I believe this will rob Nigeria and Nigerians the opportunity to elect the brightest and the best amongst us.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content1'); });
My primary concern is the fact that many of us will never become the president of Nigeria even if we aspire to be. According to the electoral law in Nigeria, a person shall be qualified for election to the office of President if he or she is a Nigerian and has attained the age of 40 years. Assuming it was agreed the in 2015 the south-eastern part of Nigeria will produce the next president; and Emeka, who is a south-easterner and aspires to be the president of Nigeria.
Emeka like many young Nigerians who don’t like the status-quo is genuinely interested in serving, and has worked hard all his life to prepare himself and achieve this dream of his. However, in 2015 Emeka will be 34 years old, and according to our electoral law, he is not yet eligible to run for the office of the President, even in 2019 when the region will be have another opportunity to present candidates, Emeka won’t still be eligible because he will be 38 years old.
Going by this ridiculous recommendation by the National Conference, Emeka’s region will not have the opportunity to present candidates again until 2055, when Emeka will be 74 years old. At 74 Emeka might not be interested in leading Nigeria again, or might even be dead (life expectancy in Nigeria is 52 years). In this scenario, not only has the Nigerian state infringed on Emeka’s right to aspire to be anything in Nigeria, but Nigerians have also lost an opportunity to elect a man who wants to truly serve and change the fortunes of Nigerians. If this recommendation by delegates at the National Conference is passed into law, many Nigerians will never have the opportunity to aspire to be Nigeria's president.
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('content2'); });
Since, the news of adoption of this recommendation by the National Conference, I have tried to play the devil’s advocate by trying to think of ways Nigeria and Nigerians can benefit from this arrangement, but I can’t come up with anything. Some proponent of the recommendation have argued that it will encourage that minority regions especially the south-south region gets to lead the country. If this is the case in order to be fair, and based on the principle of distributive justice. How do we guarantee that minorities within these regions also benefit from this recommendation?
Every well-meaning Nigerian should reject this kind of policies aimed at further dividing us. I foresee a situation where all of us will be fighting over which region will go first and which region will go last. The recommendation will only make us see ourseleves as south-southerner, north-easterner, e.t.c, and not as Nigerians.
GOD BLESS NIGERIA!
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('comments'); });