joshua
_By Fanisi Babatunde_
While some aspects of Structural functionalism have opined that norms that together constitute a society serves a purpose, and each is indispensable for the continued existence of the others and of the society as a whole. Zoning was one of such norms we grew up to believe could unite and foster even and accelerated development of the nation.
The Word “Zoning” happens to be a political blanket and deceptive tool that was designed and institutionalized by political Actors and parties to actually rotate power between groups of Nationally selfish individuals with a single “Habour point”.
Political actors acting as developmental elites since the return of democractic rule have continued to reverse the wheel of progress of the nation in one way or the other either by way of lacking the political will to design policies that will reflect on the livelihood of the ordinary Nigerian or through the continuous institutionalization of grand corruption.
Even though many school of thoughts including myself were of the opinion that we have attained some mileage in terms of creating institutions but in reality we have not faired well despite having all the functional pre-requistes of a developing nation.
For a nation that strives to excel and be listed amongst the leagues of developed or developing nation, such society must jetison all forms of backward and traditional means of leadership emergence even though such patterns impress on the masses a perception of a uniting tool.
Zoning has denied Nigeria as a whole and states of purposeful & Developmental leadership even though many might find it hard to be at same convergence point with me. However, I will like to drive us back down the memory lane to when the nation returned to Democractic rule.
The South western part of this nation had the opportunity of ruling this great country for 8 years, while the then president from the zone did well Nationally in some areas, the were still complains from his region that the region did not benefit from him and in all fairness to those who raised the dust, can we really compare the level of development of the north with the south west as at then? Were the rails fixed and modernized? Mention the number of federal universities sited in the zone during his stinct in power. What about the Lagos Ibadan express way? Was it expanded or fixed? The congestion at Apapa ports and the roads leading to the ports. How well did the government as at then faired in the zone? These are developmental issues raised by stakeholders from the zone. President Olusegun Obasanjo then spent heavily in developing the FCT and some Northern states. Today, is Obasanjo staying in the north?
Let us me skip the chapter of the Late ex- President Umaru Musa Yar-adua of blessed memory and move to that of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who was from the southern region even though he came into government at the centre by some sort of Destined provisions and was later elected via the ballots. While he was in government, the people of the South consisting of the south south and south east would have placed a bet that the region was going to be a small Dubai or some sort of a Mini London due to its size and it’s population which normally should have made the burden of development easier. How well did the zone fair during his reign as the president? If I am right, the blowing up of oil pipelines was at a consistent tempo and militancy thrived unchecked. Several oil majors sold their stakes and left the region. The East – West Road that was a major federal road linking the region was worst than ever and was practically converted into a kidnapping hub. What about all the federal airports in the zone? The Port-hacourt international airport operated from a canopy, the one at the East – West road entrance of Bayelsa named after the late Yar-Adua never saw the light of the day, Enugu and Owerri Airport almost became a swimming pool as even one had to be closed down permanently at some point even when there were at some point two federal aviation ministers from the zone. The Second Niger brigde promised at the inception of that regime was only sketched on paper. Jonathan as at then created 9 federal universities. How many of those universities went to the zone with so many located in the north. Ogoni oil spillage clean up was a dream that never came through even though as the president, he had all the powers to compel Shell Petroleum to pay the massive judgement debt that could have turn around the fortunes of the oil rich region. As at when president jonathan left power, the environment in the region was still as degraded as it was before he came.
I could recall a particular situation whereby students from the region sent on some federal scholarships abroad were complaining of funds for Thier school fees and upkeep even when a son of the soil was at the helm of affairs.
Enter president Muhammadu Buhari, a no – nonsense general from the Northern part of Nigeria who came and met a barrage of issues ranging from grand looting of the nation’s treasury, kidnapping, boko Haram insurgency and banditry. Nigerians including his own region were of high hopes that all will be a thing of the past as at his first tenure. Even though the president has achieved great and considerable mileage in the areas of infrastructural developement with massive road networks in the Eastern part of the country, the second Niger bridge, the various airports in the Southern region now functioning properly with modern facelifts, the massive ongoing rail way revolution across the country from Kaduna to Ibadan to Lagos and the proposition of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal rail project, sukuk funded Abuja- Lokoja road and several others. The terminal two of the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport and a new runway. Several social security investment schemes such as the Npower, Special public works, Survival funds, Covid 19 grants and loans, pay roll support fund, SME funds and the ease of doing business initiative cum the decongestion of the nation’s port and the PPP sign off of the Road leading to the nation’s biggest port in Apapa. In all these, Mr President has faired well but however, depite massive funds that the war against insurgency,banditry and unknown gunmen has gulped coupled with the collosal loss of lives and properties of both security operatives and innocent civilians, how well can we say the leader has faired in the areas of security?
Yes, there are everyday and night Onslaughts on the ranks of the insurgents but it’s a case of kill 10 and 20 springs up. The president is from the north and one would have expected that all would have been history but unfortunately he can only do what is within his own capacity. Where will the president go to after his tenure as the president? It is same north.
The scenarios that I have painted is where zoning has driven us through. Do you also believe that many Nigerians particularly the youths have been brainwashed to believe that zoning actually is a product of our 1999 Constitution?
I always laugh when youths gather and say oh “it is the turn of the south, it is the turn of the east, it is the turn of the west and it is the turn of the north”. When are we going to ask questions like oh ” it is the turn of the best”. I read in the news recently where the Deputy Governor of Kogi State in the North Central geo-political zone of Nigeria while delivering a speech to a gathering of Nigerian youths charging them and in one of his words saying ” *IT IS ABOUT TIME THE NATION GOES FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST AND NOT THE BEST OF A ZONE* “.
I subscribe into his ascertion because when power is zoned to a region, the region will only produce its own best and the best of a region might not be the best for the nation. Have you ever wondered why an Northern man will open a big company and make either an Igbo or a Yoruba man it’s CEO? Have you also wondered why a southerner can have a big company and make a Northerner the CEO? It’s because in the corporate world, the goal is excellence and success. They don’t look at tribe, ethnicity or religion. If it’s a Muslim that will allow a Christian owned entity attain success, they go ahead to Appoint the Muslim as an MD. I think we should borrow a leaf from the corporate entities that strives for excellence through the value placed on competence and quality. If Nigeria will develop under a South Easterner, so be it, if it’s a Westerner, so be it and if it’s a Northerner, it’s all good as far as it will fast track the developement of the nation.
In conclusion, as we race towards another democractic ritual, it is important we sit back, reflect and come out to really decide if we want to continue to live in the structures put on ground by political parties and selfish personalities or we want to chose development over sentiments.
I as an individual is not against zoning but however when it’s negatives surpasses it’s positives especially at the detriment of national progress, it calls for a very great concern.
