By: Bernard Ogbe
Fake news this days, make us not to know the truth. But if what is flying on the media space is right, about the dreams of the Jagaban, H. E , Bola Tinubu, becoming President of Nigeria come 2023 is truth, then we must admit there’s error somewhere that needs urgent rethink…
Even though it may be too early, talking about 2023 general elections, the insight to that election in regards to the dreams of the APC National leader is not far fetched.
One major factor that brings disunity among people of diverse ethnicity, is not meeting agreements. The take-off of democracy in Nigeria by the PDP, 1999 was based on ethnic zoning, which made President Olusegun Obasanjo President from the Yoruba land. His eight year terms, bringing in President Umaru Musa Yar’ Aduwa was not luck nor mistake but it was in agreement with this same zoning formula. The doctrine of necessity was that luck that instituted President Goodluck Jonathan at the death of his boss, President Yar’ Aduwa as his name wishes him well. Of course we all knew how his reign gave rise to a Northern President, Mohammadu Buhari to further complete that zoning formula of the PDP, reflecting in the elections from APC in 2015…
Moreover, Nigeria would had been better if we looked away from zoning formula and hooked unto credibility, cutting across ethnicity.
But the deeds are done, that agreement must be fulfilled by Producing an Igbo President that the tennure would bring to an end, this unholistic zoning formula.
The Southeast are formidably waiting to see what becomes, first in the leadership of the 9th Assembly (Where the Southeast have their region well represented in ranking and experience) and then, in 2023. Most Southeast rebels are waiting to mock those APC faithfuls from the Southeast region that supported President Buhari without a profound REWARD…
The Northerners are observing patiently for the mistake of the APC to produce a presidential candidate from the West in 2023. Therein lies the commotion as big wings from the North, maybe Mr Articulate or probably Baba Dangote would rise and history may become….
The Southeast I must say, would feel betrayed and mark my words, “Campaigning for a Yoruba President in 2023 in the Southeast even when you have them as running mates may be purring water on ROCKs”…
The Igbo man may look unto the northerners for partnership since their interests on fulfilling this uncivilized zoning formula is not met…
The Yoruba man would bank on few Northerners but that won’t last longer as the northerns’ interests to hold on to power knowing they have the population or voting strength intact with support from the South East as usual….
Is the Yoruba man banking on Lagos to produce a million votes??? Remember, the population of Lagos are guests from other states and this same Southeast make up large numbers of this population.
The results of what would come to play in the leadership of the 9th Assembly, coppled with the possible denial of the Presidency to the Southeast in 2023 would determine a lot in the nearest future, politically and psychologically….
More also, the possibility is impossible to project Yoruba Presidency in 2023 as it could bring rise to another Northerners to continue from where Mr President Buhari stopped.
We can’t deny the tripod upon which Nigeria stands ( Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) and expect Nigerians not to see that as selfishness nor the Southeast to see it as a barricade and exclusion from government in our proclaimed “One United Nigeria”…
Zoning is totally unconstitutional so they would say… Yes, we agree… However, What about the Moral stands??
In 1999, virtually all the political parties fed Westerners for Presidency. In 2007 the game changed with political parties presenting Northerners for Presidency… It was this same doctrine of necessity that distorted this sequence and in 2015, the quest by the Northerners to complete their fair term, returned President Buhari for completion. The 2019 general primaries elections in almost all the political parties are too close to be forgotten quickly, how all the major political parties projected the Northerners for Presidency… Was it that, they, (the northerners) among Nigerians are more qualified for the job of the Presidency??? You must be forgiven to have a yes for an answer but be told today that it all revolved around this unholistic zoning formula which will not stop without bitterness if the Southeast are neglected…
Constitutional is law but don’t forget the use of moral justification in the face of equity… “The People”…
The Nigeria of today is not that of 1999, eyes are open. Even though the dividends of democracy are slowed down by corruption, Nigerians are wiser now to know they have the power to make or dethrone any government. It’s happening everywhere in the world…
I have not written this to spit anyone nor the APC, but to draw attention to what could be expected, come 2023 if truly they nurses the ambition of succeeding President Buhari.
It’s better to remain respected and relevant than end up going to court at last nor accepting defeat or even creating the history of a Northerner succeeding a Northerner in the existence of our democracy…
Everyone must not be President and the temptation of imposition may bring collapse to what had been built.
Building elastic unity among Nigerians and making inclusive the South East into governance in our one Nigeria is the key to sustainable United Nigeria and a boast to APC as a political party…
The support of the Southeast by any of these big political parties in Nigeria would either sustain the APC or dethrone them…
Please don’t take my message seriously, but be sure to put this date on record as it may happen as said….
Bernard Ogbe
Political Activist and Seasoned Writer.
bernardogbe@gmail.com
