News Editor
By Emmanuel GanduZONING/ROTATION
‘Zoning’ or rotation is a word that has become so popular that it found its way into the dictionary/lexicon of the Nigerian political space. It is such a powerful phrase that politicians use effectively to achieve their purpose and ambition.
Pronounce it, its mouthful. Write it up in a billboard, it attracts wide attention. Use it in a political rally, it evokes cult-like following. Conjure with it, it stirs up a magical political whirlwind.
This zoning arrangement otherwise called ‘rotational’ system was introduced into Nigeria by the People’s Democratic Party PDP in order to give every section of the country a sense of belonging. Out of the different sections of Nigeria, the South East is the only region that is yet to have a bite of the action that this ‘Zoning’ formula was meant to achieve.
THE IGBO FACTOR
Having not had the opportunity to govern Nigeria since the advent of democracy, this coming 2023 presidential election is seen by many especially people from the South East as their ‘turn’ to produce the president of Nigeria.
The calls are not only becoming a source for agitation, but also seen by a generality of Nigerians as a fair and legitimate request.
Interestingly as it is, the unfolding scenario indicates that since South West (Obasanjo), South South (Jonathan), and the North (YarAdua/Buhari) had been presidents, it is therefore logical for the South East to be allowed to produce the president come 2023.
THE PDP DILEMMA
However, the prevailing political exigencies and permutations in the other contending political parties does not seem to favour the PDP with an Igbo presidential candidate. These are some of the facts :
(1) Settling for a presidential candidate from the South East for the PDP 2023 elections may be the right thing to do in the spirit of Zoning, but unfortunately, it may turn out to be political suicide for the party because they may not defeat the incumbent APC at the polls.
(2) It is most likely that the APC may choose their presidential candidate from the South West to team up with a Northern Vice president.
This arrangement may definitely give the APC the numbers needed to win the presidency.
(3) The application of zoning for power shift to the South favours the APC in 2023 better than PDP because power has been in the North for the past almost 8 years with APC.
Therefore, if PDP decides to follow and apply the zoning formula sheepishly, she may lose the votes of both the North and the South West in the 2023 elections. ( The votes from the North and South West are crucial towards wining election in Nigeria.)
(4) The South East may not be fortunate with a high voter population. They also have a low INEC voting wards and polling units. In addition, their small land mass, and a lower population compared to other parts of the country makes things a difficult political obstacle.
The South East cannot insist on playing the ethnic card because they don’t have the numbers. Politics is a game of numbers.
Given these factors, it therefore remains to be seen whether the South East will realize this disadvantage then go along with the plans of PDP to set aside the zoning arrangement in 2023 until power is brought home, or they will lose their patience and both the PDP and the South East will all miss out.
THE ATIKU FACTOR
It is my humble suggestion to the PDP to amongst others employ the following strategy :
(1) Pick a Northern Presidential candidate to fly its flag in the 2023 presidential election. This will place the PDP at a better and vantage position of slicing the Northern votes off the chunk of the APC.
(2) Select the vice presidential candidate from the Igbo stock. This will guarantee for PDP both the South East and the South South votes.
(3) I therefore recommend for the PDP to pick Alhaji Abubakar Atiku as their presidential flag bearer, and Peter Obi as the vice presidential candidate.
(a) This to me is best chance for the PDP to win the 2023 presidency.
(b) It is the quickest pathway towards realising an eventual democratically elected Nigerian president of Igbo stock in contemporary Nigeria.
