By Emmanuel Idudhe
Former president of the United States, Abraham Lincoin, in his 1864 address, defined democracy as the government of the people, by the people and for the people.
In our country Nigeria, democracy, as defined by Lincol, is not in practice but we still profess to have a democratic government. The system has been bastardised and rather than a government of the people, it is now a government of the most powerful, influentilal, and money bags. They take decisions and the masses have no option but to surrender to them.
With all the noise about democratically elected representatives to form the government, the masses are not given consideration when it comes to power or leadership matters. It is about the elected people and not the people. They decide what is suitable for them and impose same on the poor masses.
These days in our country Nigeria, the people in political offices are no more elected by the general public but they are secretly or indirectly appointed by their political godfathers and so the general election is done to fulfill all political or constitutional righteousness.
This evil act is carried out by senior officers in the INEC office in connivance with politicians or political godfathers who want to perpetuate themselves in power at the detriment of the people.
Let’s look at the issue of zoning in today’s Nigerian political system. In the first place, General Olusegun Obasanjo was elected in 1999 and he ruled Nigeria for two tenures representing the western part of the country or the western region.
After his administration, the North came into power and Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua was elected as president and he was viced by Dr.Goodluck Jonathan who completed the tenure of the late Yar Adua after his demise.
After that tenure, Jonathan was re-elected into power and ruled for a tenure representing the South after which the North came back into power again in the person of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The west, north and south have successfully ruled our country Nigeria. If we must follow the zoning system of our country, which will bring unity, peace and harmony, then power should be zoned to the South east. This is the best way to go. This region has not enjoyed power since 1999.
The wrong assumption that if an easterner wins the presidency, he will divide Nigeria or he will bring the plans of the indigenous people of Biafra into actualization is not an issue.
I think there can be strict supervision even after power has been handed over to them, when such is about to happen, impeachment can take place to root out the government and stabilise the system.
