Since Nigeria's second Republic, its nascent democracy has been underpinned by the efforts of a Federal Character Commission (created in 1996). It has also been undergirded by a Federal Character Principle (Section 14:3-4 of the 1999 Constitution). These two legalities form the guardrails that define the core principle and practice of Nigeria's federalism. In this trajectory of democracy, zoning and rotating the presidency between the north and south of the country have traditionally been a framework and a nationally accepted practice. It has been an experiment in which the federal principle and practice have continued to work together to keep a fragile and heterogeneous nation together. It is against this backdrop that this paper contributes to the raging debate on Nigeria's rotational presidency. It seeks to hone our understanding of a peaceful north-south, Muslim-Christian co-existence as the nation approaches the 2023 presidential election, for which the polity already appears to be dangerously heating up.
This paper comes on the heels of ongoing attempts by some leaders of the two major political parties (APC and PDP) to pour gas on the political sparks, bury the rotational practice and nail its coffin in broad daylight. These political undertakers argue that 'PDP's rotation' is different from 'APC's rotation' and each can occur at different presidential nomination/election cycles. Others suggest that when the north's tenure (Yar Adua) was abruptly terminated by the president's death, it warranted a continuation of a northern tenure or an adjustment of the rotational sequence. Such viewpoint argues further that at that time, the south (Jonathan) scuttled its way through, even attempting a second tenure until its defeat at the election. ... Click on the link below to go to page 2.
“Mass movement for Peter Obi giving APC, PDP sleepless nights – Ex-APGA chair” (Punch Newspaper Online 21/6/22)
“A former National Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, Victor Umeh, has stated that the mass movement trailing the presidential aspiration of the Labour Party candidate, Mr Peter Obi, is giving the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, “sleepless nights” and “serious scare”.
“2023: Nigerians no longer interested in PDP, APC – Gov Obaseki of Edo State cries out” (Daily Post 22/06/22)
“The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has expressed fear that Peter Obi, the candidate of the Labour Party, LP, may floor the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in 2023. Speaking with members of the PDP, Obaseki noted that his party could not even come second in the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti State.”
For nearly two and half decades, Nigeria went from pillar to post. From PDP to APC with an incoherent mass movement of political gladiators and kleptocrats. Many unprincipled, unpolicied and unethical. Although there are exceptions and I cannot generalise, they are few in between the pack. Those have been honourable and dignified. No policy expert, philosopher or theologian needs to be a genius to know and identify what's going in plain sight between the two parties. All are open secrets hidden in books, history, news and research reports. As the Preacher says, what is, has been, and will be. Nothing is new under the sun.
So finally, APC and PDP are the same in their repeated acts of cross-carpeting and horse-trading. Their respective National Working Committees, NWCs, have worked hard to encourage cross-breeding between the two parties. Congratulations, but no thanks. Where went the principles and policies that set parties apart by their names, ideologies, and political philosophies, if I may ask? No wonder they are both so out of touch with reality that they have finally run out of ideas. As the evidence indicates, aging presidential candidates are now their best offer. Buy one, get two (of the same). Either way, Nigerians are smart enough to know that, at the end of the day, it comes down to 'dollarisation' or 'bullionisation', which equals 'nairanisation' of their commonwealth. From election year to election day, please don't believe them anymore. As a statesman once said, such a breed of 'politicians don't believe what they say, and they are surprised when others believe them'. One presidential septuagenarian said the other day that he would hand over to the young people when he finishes his term, lol!: no sir, and no thanks. In a manic age of kleptocracy, young kings don't get handed over their right to governance by the old kings. Not even when a Donkey prophesies with a man’s voice. It never happens. When the young kings are ready on their feet, they take it. That's why all young and middle-aged people must team up, get their PVCs and be ready to take up their destiny for 2023.
Obviously, with no viable third party, APC and PDP took Nigerians on a long ride and threw them under the bus. Midway through the journey, they threw off the presidential rotation when all regions did not benefit. All in a bid to satisfy two of their septuagenarians' lustful craving for power. For their sake, last week, I presented a paper/post titled 'The Danger of Abandoning Presidency Rotation Midway the Journey (Life & Truth Africa: Nigerian Edition/LEMAN Group). With nothing new to offer, the two parties have spoken again, though with senile voices: For 2023? Either be 'Atikulated' thru' dollarisation or 'Tinubuted' (or as some even say, 'ThiefNubuted') thru' bullionisation. Thanks to the Nigerian media and young Nigerians for those 'Atikulatory' and 'Thiefnubutory' colloquialisms. We are having jokes with them and expanding them. Thank you! At least finally, politics is getting exciting for the new generation while it's becoming game over for the old brigades of Nigerian politics. The long-awaited transition to the new is now happening. Click on the link below to go to page 2