07 July 2010By Saka Raji Audu
The principle of modern democracy entails every
enfranchised citizen can vote and be voted for.
Ordinarily, the issue of zoning has no place in
democracy, which suggests that only the popular choice
should always carry the day. The People's Democratic
Party, PDP might have felt that though democracy does
not create room for zoning, some sections of the
country would not be in position to participate in the
art of governance, thereby, alienating and frustrating
such section (s) of the country from governance.
Perhaps, it was in respect of this belief that PDP
arrived at the gentleman agreement in 1999 to adopt
the principle of zoning to give room for equal
participation in governance between the South and the
North.
In strict adherence to this principle of zoning, the
first slot was allowed for the south. As a mark of
pacifying the people of the southwest and plastering
the infringement of the wound caused by the
cancellation of the June 12, 1993 Presidential
election, assumed to have been popularly won a
southwest political magnet, the late Chief MKO Abiola,
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo who had just been released or
pardoned from prison and Chief Olu Falae contested
under PDP and APP respectively.
As a result of the role Obasanjo played in the
successful conduct of the 1979 election and his
willingness to handover the mantle of leadership to
the popular candidate from the north in person of
Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Shagari, the north put her trust in
Obasanjo and massively mobilized votes for him in 1999
as against Chief Olu Falae that the Southwest went
for. At the end of the day, Obasanjo had the
overwhelming votes, courtesy of the north. This was
how Obasanjo became the President of Nigeria against
the popular wish of his O States as Ondo, Oyo, Osun,
Ogun, etc.
At the expiration of Obasanjo's first tenure in 2003,
the north still went for Obasanjo to enable him
complete the two-term tenure adopted by PDP. On the
final expiration of Obasanjo's tenure in 2007, the PDP
went for a northern candidate in person of the late
Umoru Musa Yara'dua, knowing full well that he was not
fit health wise to conduct the affairs of the country.
This was the beginning of Obasanjo's antics and change
of baton against the north. Things later began to
manifest themselves in the portrayal of Obasanjo's
true character. The man's pedigrees showed that he is
not a man to be trusted, having been tested. He is one
of the haters of the north but the north mistook him
as her child, unknown to her that she was cuddling a
dangerous python.
In the first instance, Obasanjo went to jail as a
result of his clandestine attempt to forcibly topple
Abachas's government in 1996 through incitement. He
used his eight years as President of Nigeria to carry
out revengeful mission on the north by removing
northern people from strategic positions. This is
because, his only wish for the north is to be number
one in the production of street beggars, known as
Almajirai, number one in gate-keeping and messenger
job, as well as in other menial jobs. So, we did not
need any soothsayer to tell us why Obasanjo insisted
on the late sick President when it came to the turn of
the north to produce her President in 2007 together
with his boy, Mr. Jonathan who had been voted in
Bayelsa State as Deputy Governor to be the running
mate of the late Yar'adua. The purpose of these later
manifested, which is now being realized today.
With the demise of Yar'adua, it is only moral and
constitutional for Jonathan to complete the first
tenure of his late boss via good governance as
President which ends in May next year, as well as
conduct free, fair and credible election for the
country. Obasanjo himself did this in 1979 after the
demise of General Ramat Murtala Mohammad. General
Abdulsalam also made history in 1999 after the demise
of General Sani Abacha that brought Obasanjo to office
as President. Because power corrupts and absolute
power corrupts absolutely, coupled with the belief
that opportunity lost, they say, can never be
regained, Mr. Jo and his people want to seize the
opportunity of Yar'adua's demise to occupy the
northern seat up to 2015.
Unfortunately, some southern elements and their
pockets of northern collaborators are now telling us
that zoning is not in the dictionary of democracy and
therefore, the gentleman's agreement by PDP should be
set aside in as much as in democracy, there is no
permanent friend but permanent interest. But they
failed to understand that Benard Fovion has rightly
observed that "A political career pursued regardless
of God is one of the shortest cuts to ruin, misery,
disappointment and bitterness that rankle to the end
of days. The moral questions that beg for answer from
those that are now desperate to throw out the issue of
zoning are this:
Has any one from PDP denied the fact that there was no
issue of zoning in 1999? Has Mr. President Jonathan
who was in attendance at the 1999 zoning meeting as a
deputy Governor then representing his boss denied the
gentleman's zoning agreement? Has Obasanjo, in spite
of his flip-flop talks in any way refuted the zoning
arrangement? If Yar'adua was alive, would the
antagonists of zoning be talking otherwise today? The
answer to these questions is No. If this is the case,
why the much ado about zoning that is now affecting
governance and threatening 2011 election?
In 2003 when the late Mohammed Abubakar Rimi and
Gemade from the North wanted to contest with Obasanjo
from the south, they were simply advised to stay clear
because the South represented by Obasanjo needed to
complete her own turn of the PDP zoning arrangement.
When they refused, the party primary election was able
to set them aside. I still remember that Rimi had only
six votes. Now that Yar'adua is dead and could not
complete the turn of the north under the PDP
arrangement, it is only moral that the region be
encouraged to bring out credible person for the 2011
presidential election, if the people of the party are
'sincere' and 'honest.' This is the only path of
honour.
As for those saying that zoning is PDP affair and
therefore, other Nigerians should not bother about it,
they should be enlightened that the coming of Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan as Vice President in 2007, Acting
President in 2009 and President in 2010 is also PDP
affair. But for the fact that the issue affects
Nigerians, we cannot simply leave him alone under the
pretence that it is PDP affair. After all, it is often
said that "one good turn deserves another" and "what
is good for the goose is also good for the gander."
Consequently, those saying that zoning is undemocratic
should not forget that it is also undemocratic for
President Jonathan to appoint an electoral umpire and
will still want to contest in the 2011 election,
knowing full well that it is he who pays the piper
that will ultimately dictate the tone. If democracy is
about fairness and justice, then how fair and just for
south to have a taste of Presidency for ten years
(1999-2007) and (2009-2011) under democratic
arrangement and would still want to produce President
of Nigeria in 2011 for four years? This is unfortunate
because according to Charles Cotton, "No man is wise
enough or good enough to be trusted with unlimited
powers."
There is no need of zoning summit for President
Jonathan, PDP or any one else to accept significance
of zoning in democracy. Those calling for zoning
summit are only looking for a way to regain their lost
political relevance in the country. So, no one should
listen to them. Zoning asides, we have every reason to
make sure that whoever contests under the platform of
PDP in 2011 presidential election is not supported by
Nigerians, especially the lovers of justice, equity
and transparency. We have had so many wrong doings
about PDP government in the past eleven years, which
has not moved the country forward. Why should we
continue to retain neither respect nor affection for a
government, which has been moving from wrong to wrong
in order to defend its immorality?
What happened to the N16 billion power sector? What
about the millions of naira allegedly siphoned by the
immediate past national Chairman of PDP? What is the
state of Bankole's N9 billion that engaged the
supposed honourable men and women in physical combat,
leading to suspension of others? Why are the masses
moving from bad to worse under the PDP government that
is earmarking N10 billion for celebration of common 50th
birthday of the so called independence? What are we
celebrating when our industries are hungry for power
supply, when our federal roads are hungry for repairs,
when our children are hungry for education but can
neither get admission to schools nor employment for
jobs, when our leaders still go outside the country
for medical attention, when our national team cannot
score simple goals at the world cup and when Nigeria
is being powered by Chinese technology, etc? Are these
not enough to send PDP packing in 2011 on ground of
poor showing?
PDP accepted zoning in 1999 because it favoured it but
today, it is saying that zoning is no longer relevant
to democracy because its cup is filled up. But the
party and its leadership should borrow a leaf from the
saying of Patrick Henry that "a government is allowed
in power only with the agreement of those governed.
The voice of the people is the voice of God. A king
who throws out a good law instead of being the father
of his people becomes an unjust King." So, if Mr.
President Jonathan really wants justice and equity for
his people, he should simply respect his party zoning
by avoiding being a judge in his own case. If he
insists on contesting the 2011 presidential election,
he should stop fooling the world about free, fair and
credible election in 2011. Charity, they say, begins
at home.
Saka Raji
Audu writes from Kano and can be reached on his email:
sakaraj@yahoo.com
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EsinIslam.Com
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