OTHER MEANINGS OF PDP ZONING

Zoning, according to Nigeria’s PDP, is an in-house arrangement of the party whereby contest, election, selection, and appointment to some positions, notably presidential, is rotated within the two major geopolitical zones of the country, that is North and South. By this arrangement, it means when zoning turns to one zone the other zone has no right WHATSOEVER to contest for the same seat the first zone is contesting. The idea of zoning was first introduced and therefore becomes effective, I believe, with Yar’adua (from the North) presidential regime when his administration was hoped to spend two terms, after which other interested persons in PDP from the southern zone CAN contest for the seat. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), Yar’adua died before he spend even the first tenure as a president. This led his Vice to took over and complete the tenure which will end by May 2011. While the taking over by the vice president is clearly explained and therefore has a place in the nation’s constitution, question arose on what will happen to the second tenure of the North. Arguments or rather debate ensue between proponents of zoning and those behind the Vice president ambition of becoming the next president under the UMBRELLA of PDP. The former, on one hand, argue that PDP must respect the internal arrangement of zoning as made by party irrespective of WHO it will affect, thus, “parties are bound by their (existing) agreement”. The opponents of zoning argue, on the other hand, that the issue of contest in election is a constitutional right to be enjoy by any competent Nigerian, therefore, Goodluck, the vice president, being him competent Nigerian can indeed contest, in spite of ANY internal arrangement of the PDP. Since constitution is “supreme”, they further argue, all other laws, arrangements, agreements, rules etc shall be subservient, and where they become inconsistent shall be null and void to the extent of their inconsistencies. Bla…bla…

I am not writing to take side in the PDP zoning’s debate because I do not belong to ANY political party, let alone PDP. But, while the debate demonstrates that there is a kind of political freedom within the party in terms of expression, and might also mean Nigerian progress democratically, the zoning and all hullabaloo about it could as well mean other things. Thus, in my understanding the PDP zoning means:

1. Nigeria is divisible based on geographical, ethnic and or religious differences.
2. Nigerians are not one and equal.
3. Nigeria is a one-party state.
4. PDP MUST win elections, at least Presidential.
5. Elections will not be free and fair come May 2011.
6. Elections expenditure is a waste of Nigeria’s resources.
7. Nigeria is not democratic country.
8. The political class is a deception.
9. Nigerians are being fooled.

This is just my opinion. How about you? Can you see beyond the “PDP zoning arrangement”?