ZONING: A WRONG OPTION FOR NIGERIA

The former Nigerian Senate President Mr. Ken Nnamani ventured into the Zoning Debate this week. He should not have. Mr. Nnamani is definitely one of the eminent Nigerians of this decade. His Senate Presidency displayed a man with a good sense of what National Interest really means. He presided over the senate with integrity and was primarily the last hurdle that stood between Mr. Obasanjo and the third term agenda. He handled it as only a sure footed legislator would.



His reputation soared and he left the senate with his head held high.



By the way Mr. Obasanjo was from his party.



But his journey into the murky field of zoning is a different story any way one looks at it. He defended zoning via the most illogical argument possible. First he says it is the only way an Igbo presidency could emerge. This raises all kinds of headache for everybody. It smirks of tribalism for starters. It gives the impression that he is no longer the great statesman that his senate presidency suggested; that the triumph of the Igbo is the guiding principle in his mind.



Something else is wrong with this line of thought. Is Mr. Nnamani implying that the Igbo cannot compete in Nigerian politics? What is the evidence? They have competed successfully in all other spheres of activity in Nigeria from the football field to economic achievements to educational honors. Why is politics different? He should let the Igbo sink or swim. A hand out is not the solution. If the Igbo have not learned politics, the best place to learn is on the field, playing.



Give a man a fish or show a man how to fish, which works best?



Mr. Nnamani's other idea, that it emanated from the south is not reassuring. I want to accept that he is factually correct. But so what? Should we accept it just because it is a southern idea? What of the merits of the principle? Is it the best way to get the best man or woman to guide the country? That should be the thought that is uppermost in everybody's mind, not the source of an idea.



The most ridiculous concept of all is his assertions is that it benefits the south more than the north. If this were the case, it is enough and sufficient reason to debunk the arrangement. A system that favors one group over the other is bad for the country. We should be advocating a system that does not play favorites, a plan that would give equal access to all Nigerians.



There are other differences among Nigerians than the north/south divide. There are religious differences, not just between Christians and Muslims but within each religious group. How would such differences be resolved through zoning? There is nothing like south or north. The Yoruba is not any closer to the Igbo than he is to the Fulani. Why should it be just north and south and not east and west? One makes as much sense as the other.



If Nigerians want zoning, the first logical step would be to abolish national elections. Let us zone the presidency to the 774 local governments, which would ensure that every area gets a chance to select a president. We can start by casting lots. With this arrangement only local government elections would be necessary. The current N70 billion would be reduced to no more than N1 billion.



What Mr. Nnamani should have said is that an amendment to the constitution of Peoples' Democratic Party should be amended to allow all Nigerian citizens to compete in a free and fair election. If the election always produces only the Aduba's of Eastern Nigeria so be it.



Let the rest of Nigeria figure out how to beat them.



So long as their elections are beyond doubt free and fair.