The next general elections maybe two years away, but the debate, peculiar to the two main political parties, about which part of the country should produce the presidential candidate, has already begun.
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), both have internal cracks as regards the zoning of the presidential candidate.
While there are other offices to contest for in the 2023 election, the office of the president has attracted the most attention as the occupant has enormous power in resource allocation, appointment and distribution of infrastructure.
On its part, the PDP has stated that it will make a decision at the right time. “For us in the Peoples Democratic Party, we have our party organs that will take decisions based on the conversations that will arise within our own political party. When the time comes, at the fullness of that time our party will take its zoning decision.” National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, had stated.
However, too many persons in the APC have had to speak on the zoning of the next president as some seek power to return to the South while others advocate that the North should retain power. Only a few have advocated for an open contest on the ground of competence.
Meanwhile, there are insinuations that there was an undocumented agreement during the formation of the APC for power to be returned to the South after the eight years rule of President Muhammadu Buhari, a claim that has been mostly propagated by Southerners loyal to the party’s national leader, Bola Tinubu.
The ousting of former National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, is also believed to be engineered by those who are opposed to having Tinubu emerge as the party’s flag bearer owing to their relationship.
However, the party has been largely silent on the issue of zoning keeping the debate open despite purported efforts to shop for other candidates in the South, as former President Goodluck Jonathan is alleged to be lobbied into the party as well as the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, who recently defected from the PDP to the APC.
Although, this claim of shopping for a presidential candidate has been dismissed by the APC interim committee chairman and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, who said “Those peddling such information are afraid. But for now, there is nothing in the APC that has anything to do with aspiration for 2023.
“Even if someone wants to base assumption on our recent visit to him (Jonathan) during his birthday, we were there because of his capacity as a former president of Nigeria.”
Nevertheless, issues of competence have been raised as an option to be considered and debated upon when discussing the choice of presidential candidate for both political parties.
Recently, the country has experienced a setback in its economic and security conditions which obviously calls for national attention and should be a factor to be considered in repositioning the country.
In October 2020, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo noted that the nation’s desire and pursuit of economic growth and sustainable development are best achieved through the adoption of merit as a national value.
The vice president made the remark in a keynote address he delivered at the Nigeria Leadership Initiative (NLI) webinar series themed: “A National Conversation on Rebuilding our National Values System.”
“Meritocracy is crucial in an economically viable value system because it rewards talent and enterprise. And it is talent and enterprise that would drive sustainable growth,” Osinbajo stated.
In the same vein, President Muhammadu Buhari’s nephew, Mamman Daura, insisted on merit as against ethnicity and religious considerations in choosing the next president of Nigeria.
Daura had said, “This turn-by-turn, it was done once, it was done twice, and it was done thrice…It is better for this country to be one…It should be for the most competent and not for someone who comes from somewhere.”
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is believed to be interested in running for the presidency, advised Nigerians to focus on competence rather than zoning or any ethnic bias.
“Both north and south do not know boundaries when it comes to football and other sports. So, we are appealing to Nigerians to look beyond religion and ethnicity. For once, let us get one person who will fix this country irrespective of where he comes from and then the rest shall follow,” he stated.
While a lot is still expected to play out before the emergence of a candidate for the two major political parties, ahead of the 2023 general election, it boils down to the electorates to make a choice of either a competent leader or one from their region.
