Northern Nigeria of yesterday seems to have disappeared from the political space of Nigeria after the death of Ahmadu Bello Rabah, first President-General of the ruling Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) and first premier of the region along with other political juggernauts the likes of Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, first prime minister of independent Nigeria, Dr Russel Barau Dikko, founder of the ruling party NPC and first to qualify as a medical doctor of northern extraction, Micheal Audu Buba, Salihu Muhammed Gonto, Malam Aminu Kano, Gambo Sawaba, Musa Musawa, Abdurrahaman Okene, Sa’ad Zungur, Patrick Dokotri, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka, Muhammadu Ribadu etc. At independence in 1960, Nigeria stood on three regional arrangements of the North, East and West.
Upon attainment of Republican status in 1963, the Midwest region was created by Act of Parliament and there was no eyebrow raised from any quarter about the regional structure in which the entire North was just one region while the South was divided into three regions of East, West and the Midwest, probably because it was an era of true federalism with each region controlling its resources and remitting certain percentage of its generated revenue to the central government.
As of then, the North refused to explore the opening which created the Midwest region because it wanted to remain an indivisible entity. It believed that its huge population and landmass will always be a positive weapon in the determination of who and which region controls or dominates the political space at the centre. If it had explored the window provided by parliament, the North West, North East or North Central region could have been created, but the North believed splitting the region would weaken its domineering position of power.
Despite the domineering position, politics of zoning has become a norm as different geo-political areas are putting stiff arguments to justify demands for any public office that is open for contest.
Although it is not inserted in the 1999 Constitution, zoning has been tacitly adopted to address the peculiarities of a multi-ethnic society with diverse religious leanings. The concern over domination by one section of the country is not only harbored by the three major ethnic groups— Hausa/Fulani, Igbo and Yoruba— who are perpetually at war with each other over the presidency, but the hundreds of minority ethnic groups that fear being subjugated or permanently obliterated from holding top political offices within the system.
Every zone stands up to be counted and makes a strong case for the stability of their zones to produce the occupant of the highest offices in the land including leaderships of the strong political parties on the turf.
Zoning of public offices has been compelled by the ethnic coloration of the country’s politics, the political alignments and realignments since 1999. The practice continues to gain traction in every election cycle, with certain regions or areas predominantly and consistently holding sway over others when it comes to producing the occupants of the two most coveted offices in the land.
The same scenario is at play at states and local governments. For instance, in Plateau state, the indigenous Hausas and Fulani are systematically confined to certain political offices based on ethno-religious sentiments. The state has what it calls ‘Indigenous Muslims’ for patronage while there are those tagged as ‘settlers’ that are kept at a distance despite their long stay on the Plateau for over 200 years. The situation is laughable and absurd.
In the same Plateau state, no matter how qualified a so called indigenous Muslim can be, there is no support from the majority for such a person to win the senatorial seat of the southern zone that is rotated between only two ethnic nationalities that share same religious faith.
In Wase local government area of same Plateau, hardly can a Tarok nationality access any elective office other than ward councillorship. The situation is not only retarding progress but unity and development.
The imbalance has over the last few years triggered the sudden agitation by the political gladiators in some sections of the country and most recently, the North Central, for the presidential ticket of the two strongest political parties, APC and PDP, which observers say may eventually alter the ‘gentleman’ zoning agreement on play between the North and the South.
Across section of political analysts have consistently criticized the idea of zoning, advancing very weak points why it should be jettisoned. But the majority, have argued that zoning is the most ideal way to accord every region in the country a genuine sense of belonging, especially at such a critical time when the country’s politics has become riddled with agitations for self-determination by other ethnic groups as a result from grievances over marginalization and relegation.
Ironically, many Northern self-appointed political leaders are basking in some overrated myths and legends about one formidable North where few privileged players consider themselves as the Kings and Kingmakers and continue to cash in on sentiments to have their ways. So many of them are being propelled by the illusion of ‘One North’ whose, strength has long been lost to the fire of pride, arrogance and religious sentiments that swept across the region. The North has long disintegrated while its shadow of unity is fast fading.
Our society is now too dynamic and sophisticated for anyone to psyche others into hating those they should not hate without a genuine reason other than the pursuit of a deceptive and out rightly fraudulent bid to achieve a semblance of northern solidarity and loyalty in order to further selfish or primordial causes and interests. It is no longer fashionable to assume that where one comes from is enough credential to win in an election. The bogey of one populated North lording it over other less populated areas is clearly outdated and same is applicable in local governments and states where the majority ethnic nationalities lord it over the less populated ones. Politics as a game of numbers is in no doubt, but it doesn’t matter who makes up the required number.
Today, I foresee a period coming in 2023 where merit will take the centre stage and with the divine intervention of the Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth, Nigerians would follow the path of equity, fairness, justice and honor to salvage their country from the hands of undertakers now piloting national affairs with hidden agendas against the majority interest. If Nigerians fail to get it right, for whatever myopic or sentimental reason, return the present undertakers to power from the local governments to the states and to the national level or elected to another position of authority within the system, it is then their doom forever. There must be changes if we are genuinely interested in our national development. We should move away from politics of incentives to politics of reality. We should not allow ourselves to be reduced to beggar status worshipping looters of our commonwealth for whatever reason.
Muhammad is a commentator on national issues
