The race to replace president Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, is still very much a mixed affair as controversy over zoning or power rotation continues to dominate public discourse.
Prior to Buhari's emergence as President, the North was a huge fan of zoning, and ensured Jonathan lost in 2015 largely in part, due to his refusal to stand down and allow the North regain power to compensate for Yar'Adua's uncompleted term in office, due to his death in 2010.
Knowing fully well that its the South's turn to produce the next president, the North is now a believer in "competence over zoning" as the new format for producing future presidents in the country.
Joining other voices from the North on this issue, is President Muhammadu Buhari's nephew, Mamman Daura, who suggested that the most qualified Nigerian irrespective of zone should succeed his uncle in 2023.
He said previous attempts at zoning in the country has robbed the nation of opportunity to make meaningful progress since most of those who emerged under the zoning arrangement, weren't credible and competent enough.
He said, “Rotation has been done once, twice and three times; it is important that this nation is united as one; the most qualified/competent should be elected and not someone who comes from a particular zone.”
Supporting Daura's position on emphasizing competence over zoning, is elder statesman, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, as reported by PUNCH.
“I hope those who have now seen the light are sincere. We have to accept that zoning and rotation which we have practised for over two decades has not worked. The ultimate test of any process is if it has delivered.
“You don’t choose people to lead on the basis of returning a favour. All the leaders we have produced based on this faulty premise of rotation have not delivered why should we continue with it?”