The North, zoning formula and sundry issues

The issue of rotational presidency as sweet as it may sound has made some progressives here in the North to question its validity, especially when they realized that the longevity of Northerners in power has produced little in making the region any better than the rest of the country. What is the essence and pride […]

The issue of rotational presidency as sweet as it may sound has made some progressives here in the North to question its validity, especially when they realized that the longevity of Northerners in power has produced little in making the region any better than the rest of the country. What is the essence and pride of being in control of power if after over 40 years in control, the region and its people remain backward? What did the North gain for all the time its sons controlled power at the centre? Who benefitted? Why are we turning to the North whenever we feel we have lost our grip on power?

The North and its elite, unfortunately, have reached an extent to which they can descend so low politically as to start agitating for rotational presidency. The truth is the North, described in the past as ‘monolithic’ North has ceased to exist. The region has been sharply divided between the christians and muslims, the core-northerners and middle belters, the Hausa/Fulanis and the minorities, etc, etc. Therefore, even within the region, as recent events show, the much touted idea of having one candidate to be supported by all is fast fading.

The death of Mallam Umaru Musa Yar’adua and the emergence of Goodluck Jonathan as the new president have raised a lot of debate in the region, as the ruling elite who in the past prided themselves of having control at in the centre are fast losing their grip. However, one interesting aspect of the whole argument is that the public discourse on the leadership crisis in northern Nigeria has moved from a phase characterised by blame game built on conspiracy theories, which suggested that the backwardness, poverty, illiteracy and unemployment were largely caused by deliberate policies by our southern counterparts to make the North remain perpetually poor. But the realities that stare us in the face suggests that we have ourselves to blame for all the social, political and economic crises that the North represents today. Was it policies of the South to send our children to cities as almajiris and beggars? Was it their policies that make our governors to abandon agriculture and opt for easy money from the oil windfall? Was it also their policies that saw the total collapse of our societal values?

For me, after 40 years of wasted opportunities and our chance of controlling state resources, it is time for the region to try something different and on the basis of that, firmly start negotiating what we value and which to me can help our ordinary people. For instance, our problem as a region started in the early 70s when we abandoned agriculture. The region, originally, is educationally disadvantaged compared to the South but the problem became complicated when we misplaced our priorities by allowing the agricultural sector to collapse before our own eyes. We had vibrant industries which were allowed to stagnate. This was compounded by lack of basic amenities and the energy crisis which all led to rising poverty in the region.

If our governors, 19 of them, can sit down and develop a blueprint or adopt the recommendation of the Ahmadu Bello Foundation Technical Committee report presented to them, who becomes the president of Nigeria does not really matter at all. We should consider utilizing our over 20 dams and put them to good irrigational use and set a target of having a minimum power requirement for the 19 states. Let the governors come together and design an educational marshal plan to address not only the collapsed educational system, but also address the almajiri system with a view to holistically find a lasting solution.

In terms of transportation our Governors should try and look at a way of rehabilitate the Mambila rail line, ensure the dredging of the River Niger, dualise our roads and expand and build new airports. If we can achieve some of this, the North needs not go and sit down to start negotiating rotation or zoning of the presidency. The painful aspect of it, we have accepted our position of being parasites, contributing little to the nation’s economy.

For our elites, the sooner they realise these, the better; not just for us the poor masses, but for the sake of their dignity as leaders.

Kabiru Danladi Lawanti, Area 11, Garki,  Abuja