EDO 2024 : ZONING – A Distraction From Liberal Democracy

EDO 2024 : ZONING – A Distraction From Liberal Democracy

….”Zoning a Dangerous Political Formula” -Jeffery Igbinigie 

Zoning not Edo’s problem – Edo Integrity Coalition Group 

Call on political parties to throw Edo 2024 contest open.

Ijeli Edobor,

BENIN- Against the clamour in some quarters that all political parties should zone their 2024 governorship ticket to Edo centre aspirants, the Edo Integrity Coalition Group, on Saturday, said “the problem of Edo state has never being zoning but capable leadership.”

The group in a statement by its National Coordinator and Secretary General, Jeffery Igbinigie and Pauline Ogbewele, respectively said: “the Edo Integrity Coalition Group,( EIC) is of the view that there are aspirants, from all the three senatorial district of the state, who are very capable of bettering the future of the good people of Edo state, they said.

“Zoning is an undemocratic formula used by political parties to share power according to loosely-defined geographic ‘zones’ that are neither clearly explained nor sanctioned by the electorates. It is used to goad the citizens and railroad them into perpetual subservience to political elites.” 

Zoning has become so tightly integrated into our political structure that it is being applied to all levels of representation today. A zone could be a ward, a constituency, a town, a section of a state, an ethnic group, a state or national region, depending on the office in contention.

“The periodic restriction of political opportunity to selected groups in a political entity, no matter the intention behind it, is dangerous and divisive. It promotes mediocre performance among the elected, hinders community development and becomes a catalyst for rigging elections.

At this point of our democratic development, our focus should be on protecting our people and unifying our state. Our eyes should be centered on electing people of good character, intelligence, drive, and vision who are prepared to perform and bring gains of democracy to the people.”

“We are about the unity and an indivisible state under one nation. If someone from Edo South is in a state of coma, and someone from Edo central has tried before and he could not bring that person back to life, and yet another person from Edo central has the magic wand to help resuscitate the dying South person, it would be plain stupidity to say “no” to the person with ability.

That sick person will just suffer untimely death rather than get the needed lifeline help. Elections should be based on ability to deliver service and democracy is about letting the people decide. Further, only hungry and visionless leaders who are out for selfish political ambition campaign on the basis of ethnicity, division or tribal sentiments.” 

Many of our political elite now send their offspring to study and live in the advanced nations such as United States, Canada, England and Germany. They fail to realize that these nations were not built on political zoning. The leaders in those countries follow their constitutions, not parochial party formulas that serve the few.

They seek the best to lead. Nigerian rulers enjoy what they would not offer to their own people in these civilized countries. We should stop them. The dream of people everywhere, whether it is in the United States or Nigeria, is the same – to live a good life, exercise freedom and get justice. We need leaders with good vision, who can make this dream a reality.

Zoning has always been used by the ruling parties in Nigeria as a way of holding the loyalty of minorities and the less-satisfied – a bait for the fish that otherwise would have sought deeper waters for its survival. The dangers of this practice at all levels of political administration are many. 

Zoning is an important matter that could affect the health of our budding democracy, the overall development of our nation, and the sanity of our society,there is no better time for people of goodwill and patriots to carefully and intelligently weigh the problems with this practice.

“It’s the Fundamental rights of all political parties to field candidates of their choices, and the right of the voter to freely exercise choices over who leads them cannot be compromised.

Other senatorial district of Edo state have equal rights to aspire to all offices but they must raise competence, evidence of personal integrity and commitments to the rule of law above all other considerations. 

Zoning is a distraction from liberal democracy. In Edo 2024, Edolites must think big. We should not allow the illusion of zoning take the place of the majority interest. Let’s extricate ourselves from the fetters of zoning which obviously, no longer sustainable to development.” 

They said” What we should be looking out for is the track record of all aspirants from all political parties that will be participating in the forthcoming Edo 2024 elections. What are the antecedents of these people? What and what have they done right or otherwise?

“What are their experiences? How successful are they in their personal endeavour, aside politics? Because we need someone who can create jobs for our people. So, you must be that person who knows how to be productive. Not just come and start paying salaries of Edo workforce, we need development.

“We need someone who has been able to manage his or her personal business over the years, to become our governor. Because, when he or she gets into office, the wealth of experience gathered overtime will be brought onboard. Both small scale businesses and large scale industries should be of paramount importance to us as a people, while we do not sideline or downplay the importance of security.“ So, these are issues that need to be addressed properly. Anyone who can deliver on these and more is who we need in Edo state, regardless of where he comes from or which party he comes from.”

“We also advice the political parties to throw the contest open to all aspirants irrespective of the zone where they come from, that’s democracy; they said.“ By the time you begin to put zoning into consideration, then you begin to negate the principles of democracy. Moreso, the issue of zoning isn’t encapsulated in our Constitution as a people.

“Now, some people are threatening others over which zone to produce the next Governor of Edo state .Instead, to play their politics strategically, taking into consideration that democracy is a game of number, they are busy threatening others.

We need a pacific political atmosphere in Edo state. We do not want these threats here and there. Everyone should be allowed to test their strength and popularity. Who emerges as the winner of his party should be supported by his party and that’s how democratic politics is done.”

We can begin today to readdress our political thoughts and orientation as we aspire for a better society anchored on competence, competition and merit. 

A society where the will and aspiration of our people will be prioritized over minority interest. For us to engrave our name in this golden age of democratic dispensation, we must shun mediocrity and sectional political interest.

“We strongly believe that zoning enhances division rather than foster unity. It divides Nigeria into regions and tribes, and focuses on our differences. In a nation, zoning focuses on the regions; in a state it brings out the units; old affiliations and dialectic problems; in a city, deep-seething and unresolved disagreements. If we want to build unity, we should wisely do away with cutting our nation up into fragments that bring division and enhance our differences.”

They therefore, advised that the Edo 2024 governorship contest should be left open to every zone of the state for the best candidate to emerge.