Zoning as panacea for FCT’s divisive politics

The right to choose who leads the people provides the ample opportunity for people to participate in the art of governance. But if participation is the key word, then in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) democracy has lost its meaning. The first settlers of FCT first saw the art of participation in governance during the […]

The right to choose who leads the people provides the ample opportunity for people to participate in the art of governance. But if participation is the key word, then in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) democracy has lost its meaning. The first settlers of FCT first saw the art of participation in governance during the Second Republic, with the election of Daniel Yakwo, a Gwari from Abaji, and Musa Tanko Abari, a Gwandara man from AMAC, as senator and member House of Representatives respectively. This was real democracy in action as the actors were decent young and middle-aged men and women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds but united in their action.
What concerned them was the unity of the new federal territory and its people who were from the three main states that formed the new FCT. They got it right because they saw themselves first and foremost as Abuja people whose destiny lies in their hands. The very few positions available were zoned in such a way that everybody felt a sense of belonging. The Senate position went to a Christian Gwari man while the Rep seat went to a Muslim Gwandara man – the party positions were shared accordingly and everybody went home happily.
The end of second republic and the emergence of the IBB’s SDP and NRC was the beginning of sad political experiment in Abuja when we saw the emergence of very young political actors whose credentials were sentiments of tribe and religion. This sad development was more pronounced in the old Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Things kept falling apart, suspicion and lack of trust became the hallmark of our society and indeed the best of hands opted out of politics, leaving behind religious and tribal chauvinists and bigots at the helm of affairs. In the nearly 30 years of active political activities in the FCT, time has now come when we must find the true meaning of democracy, which is people’s participation, where both minority and majority are carried along with no one outplaying the other . We must do all we can to ensure there is no any animosity, pains and worries among the people or else there can never be the desired peace. Whatever can be done to promote peace and healthy competition should be encouraged. In this era of influx of Nigerians into the territory, we must eschew sectionalism so that all sections of the people are involved. Zoning of offices must be encouraged as a reflection of political maturity, unity of purpose and participatory democracy.
The coming into life of Abaji Rural Area Development Association (ARADA) may not have come without political suspicion and worries, the rural people must have felt sidelined, cheated or seen as minorities and so had to evolve strategies to end the city’s dominance on the occupation of the No 1 seat in the council. Whatever pundits may say today, the rural Abaji people are happy for it not simply because they hate the city people but at least to make some points. Today the political equation has changed; it has enabled the rural people to stand for election and twice produce two rural persons as Abaji council chairmen, a feat they had never dreamt of.
I may not come from Abaji to know exactly the pains of the Abaji city people but what is more important is that both the city and the rural people are now compelled to accept that everybody is important and would have no choice than to agree to ensure that the theory is acceptable to all. At least an Abaji village man or Gwari minority is today the chairman of the council, thanks to the politics of zoning.
It is therefore my submission that if other political families in the area councils emulate the Abaji rural people theory, the struggle for power that brings with it animosities would have been minimized or eradicated. I personally am a victim of political witch hunt and vindictiveness but have never been worried because my overriding concern lies with the how to conduct our struggle devoid of worries, falsehood and pretence. We must adopt zoning formula where the indigenes and other Nigerians alike will feel a sense of belonging in the entire political equation. We must not allow a particular group of people to load themselves on the entire citizenry in a place where unity is the guiding spirit. Let us not rest on our oars until we get it right. For me I will never be afraid or allow anybody or group to intimidate me to deviate from standing against falsehood, political oppression and injustice. The FCT political class must close rank so that we can achieve political cohesion. The future of our people should be our major concern.
Jiwa wrote from Abuja.