Mallam Nasir El-Rufai’s Position on the Zoning Formula: Addressing the Issues and Matters Arising -By Timothy Dokpesi Adidi

One of the greatest problems and challenges we have in Nigeria is the very fact that we find it very difficult to separate the dancer from the dance. More so, neither is it very easy to separate the message from the messenger. It is important that for issues to be clarified and looked at with a critical perspective we need to try every possible means to separate the dancer from the dance; or the message from the messenger or else we shall be missing the point.

Recently the Kaduna State born Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai made a statement on the need  to jettison the Zoning formula arranged by political stakeholders as a criteria for the next presidential elections. So many notable Nigerians greeted this with mix reactions, for some, the said comment made by the Governor of Kaduna State is prejudicial and sentimental. For some people, the Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai is tactically and surreptitiously making his way to the Presidency or trying to retain power to the North.

Nonetheless I have decided to toe a different part in another direction, not to hold brief for Mallam Nasir El-Rufai because he is mature enough to speak for himself and justify his own words and actions. I on my part for once have never supported the idea of the Zoning formula and the very reason I know is that it is antithetical to the ideals of democracy (I could be wrong as well).

First and foremost to address the issues as they present themselves, it is important for us to view them with an eagle eye and ask fundamental questions. Is the Zoning formula an issue of concern to Nigerians politics or not? Has the Zoning formula ultimately promoted the ideals of democratic engagement in Nigeria? Is the Zoning formula a property of participatory democracy as it is presented with International best practices? Is the Zoning formula a problem and a challenge with political morality as established by law? Is the principle of the Zoning formula the constituents of the voice of the people? Can we also say the zoning formula is a voice of a selected few who galvanised themselves into some political demigod to truncate the ideals of democratic processes and procedures?

When we begin to ask this fundamental questions then we shall first and foremost begin to interrogate the origins of the Zoning formula. What brought about the Zoning formula? How did Nigerians perceive marginalisation in the past, present and how will they perceive it in the future? It is important to note that the Zoning formula has not even solved the problems that has confronted us in leadership, but the Zoning formula has rather proven the disastrous presentation of unbridled Ethnicism which makes sure the circulation of Corruption is a by-product of “turn by turn”. As the popular saying goes “it is our turn to eat the National cake”.

No doubt, one understands the peculiarities and circumstances we find ourselves in Nigeria were the Zoning formula has become very important but not necessary because if we must operate an open society diffuse of Ethnicism then we must begin to formulate policies that will enhance a robust and vibrant cosmopolitan society were meritocracy and competence should be the guiding rule first before any other measurement or determining factor that will produce a qualitative presidency rather than promoting Ethnicism, crayonism and clientelism to the detriment of patriotism; and this is were Mallam Nasir El-Rufai should be understood before trapping him into the mud of prejudicial engagement.


But then, how do we measure the prejudice of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai concerning the Zoning formula? Do we judge his statement base on our own prejudice, thinking that the Kaduna State Governor has an intention of becoming a President come 2023? Are we just presuming or judgmental that the Kaduna State born Governor has an intention of becoming the President in 2023? Has the Kaduna State Governor declared is intention of becoming  the President of Nigeria in 2023? How do we come to an epistemological certainty or fact that the Governor of Kaduna, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai intends to be the President of Nigeria come 2023? Should the critics of the demise of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai Zoning formula be correct then if it raises more questions than ever.

In the midst of all these controversies as to whether the North wants to hold unto power or not beyond 2023, this I think depends on the Nigerian people who would decide their fate through the electoral umpire, INEC, in a duly organized elections, where the Nigerian people will go to the ballot and vote for who they have chosen irrespective of his or her geographical provenance, social extraction, religious affiliation, political party and other wise; because the last time I checked Mallam Nasir El-Rufai has the fundamental human,  political Cum constitutional right to vote and be voted for.


ADIDI, Dokpesi Timothy
08138605055
Timshow03@gmail.com