Recently, a lawyer and politician asked me if zoning was constitutional. Even with my concealed giggle, I felt bound to come, quite necessarily, to defend my stand on zoning, which spurred this article. I told him I have travelled and met with people from all walks of life on many occasions, and I have never seen where greeting someone is written in any constitution.
So what, I demanded, was the point of his statement concerning zoning as part of the constitution? Well, zoning might not be part of our constitution as such, however it is part of our political stability, justice, fairplay and equity catering agenda.
Zoning is inextricably linked to each of these above-mentioned virtues. So, even as an Edo State man from the North Senatorial District, I cannot be compelled to distance myself from this deduction as this is a product of choice between that which is right and that which may end up being challenging – bringing the minorities into submission.
At this important stage in our collective history, we cannot fail to assume the importance of zoning in our politics as a natural effort that comes with necessity. At this stage, we cannot court the dismissal of this vital political attribute that has helped our interpersonal and political relationship in Edo State. Zoning poses to try the credentials of the hardiest democrats in a diverse multi-ethnic group as we have in Edo State.
So it is a Sisyphean burden on our shoulders to see how we navigate through this essential progressive idea. We cannot afford to take for granted the focused energy of progressive-minded Edo State people from the three senatorial districts championing zoning for posterity’s sake. If we believe in democracy, we are obliged to accept, without discrimination, the will of most people.
Only through this can we eliminate the idea of marginalising the weaker by the stronger. I see this zoning as an idea that captures the essence of our oneness, an ascription of equal membership of the state.
Any alteration will belittle our political virtues. Yes, zoning appears to give the most accessible meaning to our collectiveness. For those arguing against zoning, which I find within the territory of unrelenting anomie, will it translate to mean the South Senatorial District can produce another governor after eight years? Will it also be influential thinking for Edo North Senatorial District, where I come from, to produce another governor after Senator Oshiomole left power in 2016, and Comrade Phillip from the same zone is completing eight years as the deputy governor?
What happens to the central district? Suppose we can rationalize this with the escapist conviction. How can we justify or discount it in 8 years if the same proponents also say “no to zoning”? Should we now agree that the dominant zone in terms of population should always be ruling the state? And very importantly, will it not be bemusing to say the gubernatorial ticket won’t be zoned, and then the deputy governorship ticket will be zoned? Is that not contradictory? Is that not an arbitrary thinking?
Or does the proponent want to tell us if they decide on a South Senatorial District candidate or even the North sibling, his deputy can also come from the same household(family) since the motoring illogical argument is that ‘no to zoning’?
We must acknowledge the responsibility that rests on our shoulders as a people to do that which is right without raising the barometer of marginalization through the relentless pursuit of the mantra, no to zoning. Zoning is one of our shared political cultures and values. I call for equitable dealing without being glib about it.
Out of sheer political hunger, we cannot discount and underestimate our oneness as a people. We must remain committed to the ideals that bind us with a focused pursuit of equity, justice and fair play.
The political recruits into the disillusioned on the issue of zoning should not be allowed to expand, it must be nibbed at the bud now we can still hear each other.
Without this, we are calling for the abandonment of hope of justice. We all know that justice, Fairplay and equity are parts of the scaffolding holding our being and civilized co-existence.
Dele Elempe, a political strategist, journalist and Truth Live News Columnist, writes from Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.