"It amounts to hypocrisy for the South-South region to now want to back out of the zoning arrangement because the table has turned in their favor. If not for zoning, would an Ijaw man from Bayelsa State be nominated to be the Vice Presidential candidate for the PDP or even become the president of Nigeria taking into consideration that politics is a game of numbers and Ijaw people is a minority group in Nigeria? The advantages of the principles of zoning are more in favour of minority ethnic nationalities who have been betrayed, marginalised and sometimes treated with disdain by other ethnic groups because they have the majority. Those clamoring for the abandonment of zoning are selfish and self-seeking individuals. Zoning has created peace in time of crisis; it has cooled down frayed nerves in the past. It is also true that without zoning, there will be no true federalism. It also depicts equity, justice and fair play." - Omolubi Newuwumi, Minority Ethnic Rights Activist. Icheoku affirms that the minorities of Nigeria stands more to gain by sustaining and maintaining the zoning arrangement in place rather than throw it away just because of a fleeting and temporary advantage of President Jonathan's incumbency. Omolubi Newuwumi spoke the whole truth and nothing but the truth; and Icheoku can only hope that President Jonathan shall have the courage to reject the tempting temptress of a presidency in 2011 and look at the bigger picture; and for posterity, heed this call of a non sycophant and please not run in 2011
No comments:
Post a Comment