There are few states in Nigeria that share rare commonality like the Ekiti people. I doubt if there is any state in Nigeria that’s as indissoluble as Ekiti state. A critical look at our language, culture and the totality of our belief systems will tell of our ageless resolve to be known as one. This is far beyond happenstance. God made it so. From Ado to Ise, Ijero to Ifaki, Ijan to Omuo, Ekiti is one indivisible entity. How did the zonal lords find their ways into our polity despite these unchanging peculiarities? Let’s attempt to trace history as we use Nigeria to dissect the machinations of zonal lords in Ekiti state.
Shortly after 1914, when the Southern and the Northern protectorates were fused as one by Lord Lugard, our consciousness grew and we became a divided people rather than the unity the White Supremacists intended to create. Many interests sprang up and high wired pretence was born.
The framer of our constitution echoed that we are a people indissolubly linked. We are united and nothing must divide us since we have agreed to live as one indivisible entity. In fact, it was codified and well spelt out that no part should secede. We are Nigeria. We are one. The ‘pains and the joy’ of the land belong to all of us.
Consequently, in order to organize our system so as to cater for all of us, we decided that zones must be recognized and the country got six geopolitical zones. This was to help the smaller groups who are sometimes referred to as the minorities enjoy some legitimate benefits as an indispensable entity of Nigeria which the major tribes could possibly ignore.
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Nigeria has metamorphosed into a clime where everything is Zonal. What has good governance got to do with zones? Who benefits from these zonal arrangements, the masses or the political class? What has been the visible impacts of these Zonal lords to their zones since 1960? Let us have an intellectual engagement as we find plausible answers to these prodding.
Ideally, zonal politics would have been needless had it been Nigeria was a sane clime where good governance isn’t a rarity. To allay the fear of being shortchanged or neglected, power must be shared equally. It will now be convenient for all zones to be duly represented. It is like your relative is on top of the proverbial orange tree and he must give you good ones.
Unfortunately, history is replete with many instances of how zoning hasn’t helped in any way. Zoning has nothing to do with good governance. It is not always true that concentration of power in a zone will be directly proportional to good governance or any worthwhile benefits for the people of that zones except for the political class. For example, former president Jonathan had six years to clear the rots in the Niger Delta region but did he? Did the masses of the South West enjoy former president Obasanjo when he was president? Now, come to think of late president Musa Yaadua’s Amnesty program for the Niger Delta Region which birthed the Ministry of Niger Delta today. Who thought that could have been a brainchild of a man from the North? It is very possible to have your man on top of the proverbial orange tree and you wouldn’t get any orange let alone the bad ones. The masses of the North are the poorest in Nigeria. Yet, their people have stayed longer in power than other zones put together.
Moreover, zoning is a primordial political arrangement that inhibits excellence and competence. It is self perpetuating. It is a subtle divisive plan by the power brokers to threaten our collective existence as an indivisible entity. It is corrupt, puerile and unhealthy. We cannot jettison merit on the altar of zoning.
Engr. Kayode Ojo believes in a prosperous Ekiti state where everyone would thrive unhindered. He has demonstrated such strong will of unity in serving the people of Ekiti state beyond primordial considerations. We should thank God who gave us a unified language as a people and that should tell us a tale of perfect togetherness right from the beginning of creation. How shall we segregate a people bound by God’s love on the altar of zoning?
What should preoccupy our minds should be service and that’s what Engr. Kayode Ojo represents.
Sunday Olugbenga Abire writes from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
PS: The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily that of the Publishers of The Precision NG.
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