ZONING SAGA AND NIGERIA’S POLITICAL FUTURE

Hi Friends,

Trust you are great, just want say thank you for always taking time out to read my posts. It's quite encouraging to get commendation from everyone.

I just had the article below posted on my facebook, so i felt i should do same here. The article was published in Financial Standard Newspaper on 12th and 19th of July 2010. It's my comment on the current current Zoning saga.

Please read thru:

First it was all about our then ailing president, everyone wanted to know where he was, what happened to him and there was so much distraction at the hem of affairs. While all these were happening, our northern brothers kept buttressing the fact that whatever happens, the leadership of this nation would rest on their shoulders for another 4 years based on a political party’s consensus. And for a while now, Zoning has been the crux of the matter. It baffles me on how people are so concerned about their selfish interest than the well being of the entire nation. I don’t think we should allow this zoning thing distract us from what is important, which is setting agenda for national development and working towards attaining greatness for this nation.

It is not constitutional; therefore debating it is not so important. Be it as it may, it would be great to remind the perpetrators that the interest of the entire nation supersedes that of a political party or region.

If you ask me, participation in governance by every part of the country should not be the criteria for electing a leader. Nigerians should be free to elect a leader with tested and proven record of good leadership abilities or potentials. Agreed, that the zoning was borne out of sentiments to stop complaints on marginalization, but like the first PDP national Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar said “But zoning is not permanent. It is temporary” even as PDP plans to do something with the zoning theory; I would love to remind them that true and effective leadership is not based on zoning.

Status quo is the mess we are in, according to Ronald Reagan, a former American president. The earlier we discover that we owe posterities a lasting legacy and foundation on which they can confidently build on, the better for us.

The interest of the people should be considered ahead of tribe and sentiments in leadership. As election draws near, it would be a great delight for every one to participate. The constitution allows every legible Nigerian to participate in the election of anyone they find suitable to lead them. Why should some political party restrict us to a particular region? Leaders that should keep themselves busy with setting agenda for national development are busy clamouring for regional leadership while some are busy fighting in the house over allowances and personal benefits.

A group of prominent Northern politicians in the ruling people’s Democratic party recently met in Abuja to map out strategies aimed at stopping Jonathan from contesting the presidential poll next year, insisting that their region should produce the president in the next dispensation. Sincerely the interest of the nation should be of major importance and not region. Let us remind these leaders that the foundation they build today is what posterity will build on.

Does it really matter if one region leads for several years if the leadership is born out of the interest of the people and not for regional or political interest? I personally don’t have a problem with the presidency coming from the north or any other region for 20 consecutive years if development is even and equally distributed across the nation. I don’t agree with the arrangement of insisting that presidency must come from a particular region because a political party said so.

The political party can go on to nominate, but the people who are aware of the political situation of this country and the dire need for national transformation in every facet of this great country should not be bought over by some sect who think posterity will forgive them for their selfish arrangement to trade the nation’s interest for their selfish and political ambition.

I believe we are going to have a credible election in 2011, but the people must come out to vote for the candidate they know will bring about the change we need. it has absolutely nothing to do with colour, race, region. If politics was based on this premise, I don’t think President Obama of the United States of America would have had a chance.

Americans stood up for change, because they were tired of status quo. The good people of this nation are tired of status quo- the way things are. We need change and that, we will get, but there is a price to it. We must all stand up for it.

We can’t jeopardize the future of this nation because of some selfish people who only think about party and not the interest of the nation at large. Let me say this to my fellow custodian of this great nation. Political parties will definitely lure you to dance to their tune with so much money. But while you take that money, remember you are trading the future of this nation and posterity for selfish gains.

Nigerians should be allowed to make their choice of a president in a free and fair election.

Let us take a stand against selfishness. Stand up for equity and justice. Think more of the people, less about ourselves make the right decisions, and take the right and necessary steps towards achieving greatness for this nation. It’s a price we must all pay to attain greatness. NIGERIA, GOOD PEOPLE, GREAT NATION!

Take Charge!

Favour.

Published in Financial Standard Newspaper-12th and 19th of July 2010.