Rather than the zoning arrangement currently in use, Kogi’s Yahaya Bello has called for the selection of the “best candidate” as the basis for the nation’s choice of a president.
Rejecting the use of rotational presidency, Yahaya Bello described the system as one which has outlived it usefulness.
Speaking with journalists after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, the governor said the best candidate should be elected as the president irrespective of their zone.
The governor admitted that Nigeria, despite using the zoning arrangement from 1999 to date, there isn’t any remarkable success or achievement to show for it.
“Why don’t we simply go for the best? After all, we copied this democracy from America and some of the developed countries. How many of these countries are practising traditional presidency? You see, we are where we are today not because we are practising rotational presidency.
“If you want to go by that rotational presidency, then do perfect zoning. Go by perfect rotation. And if you go by rotation and whichever way you come from, I don’t think you should exclude where I come from. That’s number one.
“Number two, let us get a credible, sincere, patriotic Nigerian to fix it. If you’re flying an aircraft, you don’t ask who is the pilot? If you undergo an operation in a hospital, you wouldn’t ask “which doctor is this?’ ‘Is he from your zone, your tribe, your religion?’ All you want is the best pilot to fly you safely to your destination. All you want is the best doctor to handle you and deliver you safely from the operation.
I think Nigeria is at that point now of seeking the best from anywhere in this country, irrespective of where he comes from. Thereafter, you balance in position to reflect equity, fairness, and justice. That is my position.”
“I think where you come from should not matter in your service to this nation. The religion you practise should not matter. The creed you belong to, the class you belong to, should not matter. What should matter most is the content that is contained in you — your stuff. What do you have to offer this country, to secure lives and livelihoods, to unite this country to make sure that Nigerians are respected not only at home but abroad?
“So, I want to believe that when the time comes, Nigerians will see reason. Of course, already, they are calling on me. When the time comes, it’s going to be overwhelming. The 1993 hope that was dashed will be revived and actualised in 2023,” he said.
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