Adamawa 2015: Why PDP should adopt zoning

It first began with the dissolution of the PDP executives in the state by the national HQs. The then executives led by Mijinyawa Kugama, a fellow fulani man who hails from the same ward and LGA with Murtala Nyako had expired, but the impeached governor wanted to force it on the rest of PDP members […]

It first began with the dissolution of the PDP executives in the state by the national HQs. The then executives led by Mijinyawa Kugama, a fellow fulani man who hails from the same ward and LGA with Murtala Nyako had expired, but the impeached governor wanted to force it on the rest of PDP members in the state.
The INEC had to intervene by writing to the national HQs of the party, asking it to conduct a congress election to elect new exco in Adamawa, but in his usual characteristic, Nyako vehemently resisted that the Exco must not go.
The picture painted above, is a deliberate attempt to correct an impression created by some self-serving Fulani stakeholders who feel uncomfortable with Bala James Ngilari as governor, and Joel Madaki as PDP state chairman who incidentally are non Fulanis.
For the record, it should be noted that while Governor Ngilari from the northern zone is in his present capacity, courtesy of the judiciary, Madaki was constitutionally elected as chairman of the party from the  central zone of the State. Conversely, Mijinyawa Kugama was imposed on the party by then Emperor Murtala Nyako against due process.
This of course, resulted in the current seeming lopsidedness angrily complained about by a section of Fulani community in some national dailies; which to any discerning mind does not hold water as what goes a round comes a round. Let both Ngilari and Madaki be for now before 2015.
The impeachment of Nyako,and subsequent swearing in of Ahmadu Fintiri as acting Governor, sent shivers down the spine of  a lot of Fulani stakeholders in the state, who believed Fintiri was anti Fulani due to his stance and open persecution of the folk. It is gathered that some Fulani stakeholders were planning to throw their weight behind Senator Bindow Jibrilla of the APC, in the botched October 11, 2014 election, who fraternised openly with them; as a result, the plan to remove Fintiri was hatched and the rest is now history. He has been replaced by Ngilari who is seen as a pro-Fulani, Marghi man.
As the party gears up to hold its primary election in November this year, there are agitationsfrom concerned quarters, especially stakeholders that it must keep with the zoning principle if it is to make meaningful impact in the forthcoming polls.
On this note,proponents of zoning in the state aver that since Boni Haruna, a non-fulani  had ruled the state for two terms of (8 years), and Murtala Nyako, a Fulani for almost two terms, political equity and fairness demand that PDP must ensure that it is given to a non-fulani this time around, stressing anything short of this could spell danger for the party at the polls. With the avalanche of aspirants on its platform there are palpable concerns among relevant stakeholders in the party whether or not zoning should be adopted in selecting the party’s flag bearer.
However, majority are of the opinion that in picking its candidate, the party should in the interest of justice to give any disadvantaged area the  gubernatorial opportunity by ensuring the emergence of a non-Fulani flag-bearer of its dream if emerging victorious in the election is to be realized.
Since democracy is a game of numbers, it is necessary at this juncture to buttress this point further. In a state of 3.8million people (2006 census), ethnic minorities  make up 98.2% while the Fulani make up 1.8%. No doubt, this statistics is likely to rankle those who are profiting from the present hegemonic system, whereby the minority lords over the majority. Even those who disapprove of this argument, a comprehensive breakdown of local governments will humble their seemingly haughty disposition.
According to statistics released by a highly-respected NGO, the percentage of population of Muslims in Madagali LGA is (0.1%), Michika (0.1%), Mubi North (0.2%), Mubi South (0.2%), Maiha (0.5%), Hong (0.1%), Gombi (0.1%), Song (0.5%), Girei (0.4%), and Yola North (0.2%). Others are Yola South (0.5%), Fufore (0.5%), Mayo Belwa (0.3%), Jada (0.4%), Ganye (0.4%), Toungo (0.4%), Demsa, Numan, Lamurde, Guyuk, and Shelleng (0.1%) in all the five L.G.As. Interstingly, in each of these L.G.As, non-Fulanis constitute the remaining population.
The larger nay potent implication of this statistic is that it will amount to  committing political hara-kiri for PDP or any political party for that matter to  ignore this poignant reality and give its ticket to a Fulani candidate to fly its flag. The ugly truth is that giving the ticket to a Fulani candidate is likely to trigger protest votes from the dominant non Fulani population in the state, a development that will make PDP kiss a permanent  goodbye to the gubernatorial position of the state.
Dear readers, instead of being seen as a religious bigot for canvassing for a christain flag bearer for PDP, my decision should be viewed from the  prism of an  attempt to ensure equity in the party. Historically, National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the precursory of the PDP, adopted zoning and rotation of executive and political offices to give sense of belonging to all party members
In the same vein, the decision of the Abdulsalami Abubakar regime to zone the presidency to the south west in 1999 was a deliberate ploicy to assuage the angst of the people of the region for the annulment of the June 12, 1992 election by Gen. Ibrahim Babangida. This made way for the then two dominant political parties, the All Peoples Party (APP) and the PDP to field Chief Olu Falae and Gen. Olusegun Obansanjo respectively for the presidential election that year, and the soothing effect of this wise decision was evidently palpable. It gives all members of the parties, irrespective of the geo-political zone a huge sense of belonging and relief that anybody can aspire to the highest political office in the land.
The proponents of zoning of the ticket to a christain candidate in Adamawa state argue that it will ensure smooth victory for PDP in an election that is expected to be keenly contested, and it is difficult not to agree with this position.
According to a political analyst, the quickest way for a political party to lose electoral value is to jettison justice in preference for in justice and impunity. the dominat party in the state cannot afford to disconnect itself from the  people by backing the wrong candidate. Given its numerical superiority in the state, PDP can further boost electorial chances by doing the right thing given its ticket to a none filani at the November 29th 2014 primary election.
Bubakari is a student of Adamawa State University, Mubi.