A recent piece in the Economist highlights the system of zoning, that Nigeria employs to alternate power between the north and south of the country. In the Economist’s words: “Candidates are picked alternatively from north and south behind closed doors and presented to voters in rigged polls.”

I have to agree with the message of the piece, which is essentially saying that zoning does not work. In a country of approximately 150 million people, they need a government that consists of the best people for the job – through merit rather than where they come from.

Since independence 50 years ago, Nigeria has not achieved its full potential as ‘the giant of Africa’. Public services across the nation are all but non-existent, corruption is rife and democracy, in the true meaning of the word, is  not being practiced.

Another extract: “The zoning system…tends to produce poor leaders. Only the well-connected get to the front of the queue. Usually they are incompetent,too,since the regional barons who anoint them like weak figures who will not challenge the status quo.”

Food for thought – What do you think? Is zoning an out-dated idea that produces poor leaders, or is it still the best way to deal with ethnic tensions within Nigeria? Comments below.

Blazay:

No, it is not.
Given the multi-ethnic sentiments dividing the whole country, it is the best we can do now.
So that each geo-political zone can work within itself to field it's best candidate.

I like the idea because it would bring about a healthy competion within the ethnic groups in Nigeria.
It would be nice to see what ethnic group can put Nigeria in the right direction/

I do not count the military when I think of governance.

OBJ has had 10 years and counting. A major failure from the Western part of Nigeria.
Atiku is from the Middle Belt and will show more promise being independent from the only government we have ever known in Nigerian history, which is the OBJ-IBB pseudo ciivilian government.

We need a break from 'khaki in agbada' rule.

Right now, zoning is the only mechanism by which the various ethnic groups in Nigeria will avoid the comback of military rule in Nigeria. At least, something to hope for as in 'it is our turn'.

Not a bad idea if implemented with the right tools in place.

oiseworld:

the moment u say zoning, u have stepped on the foot of a free and fair election.

oiseworld:

remember that this zoning of a thing is not in the Nigerian constitution.

oiseworld:

obviously the election has to be rigged to favour the zoned region. that is the point u all do not understand.

OYB_MEND:

Zoning is why after the PDP rigging, there was no ethnic war because supporters of Buhari can not possibly attack supporters of Yar'adua or Atiku

And Supporters of Olu Falae can not possibly attack supporters of OBJ based on one ethnic group maltreating the other during elections.

So folks, zoning is not best practice but in Nigeria; for now it works.

oiseworld:

what happens if after zoning.   another candidate from another party,from another region wins the election.  won't the zoned region cry fowl, that they had been cheated.  

oiseworld:

not to allow these, the election would have to be rigged by the PDP. let us use our foresight.
lets say PDP present a Northerner and ACN wins the election with an igbo man.  wont"t the north feel cheated.

mens dept:

Is zoning really the best we can do? Even at the state level, criminals are using zoning as a reason to support one candidate over the other, instead of experience, track record, or accountability.
Was it not the same zoning that produced OBJ and Yar Adua?

mens dept:

How I wish our leaders, or rather our people, would fight to the last for honest elections instead of selections. That way, people like Fashola and Peter Obi would be in the majority.

mens dept:

Perhaps but,

What happens when it doesnt work, or isnt working, or Naija isnt moving forward, and instead, state legislators and national MPs are awarding themselves millions abi billions for cars, furniture, and maybe even jets?

mens dept:

You see, when a pretender is imposed on us in the name of ZONING, doenst perform, and dies, his slightly more competent Vice could be denied the natural ascendancy to be HOS. Then we have to renegotiate or return to square one.

alphabet43:

Are you bleeping shitting me. Nigeria is backwards due to the mental retardation of people like all of you talking about some zoning poo. I don't even believe I'm hearing conversation in 2010. i guess we should even go back to slavery then. Support your candidate and let him win in a free and fair election. It is complete and utter madness and mental retardation to advocate some not-so-smart as zoning

igbobuigbo:

Nigeria is doomed without zoning. The present zoning arrangement has one major flaw: it is 2-zonal (north versus south) instead of 6-zonal (SE, NE, NW, SS, SW and NC). If the later was the case, nobody will have seen Jonathan as usurping the north's term.

fstranger:

Again wrong you are. the present system is actually 6-zonal, not 2-zonal. check your facts!
I agree with you, Zoning is necessary in our politics.

igbobuigbo:

Why not show how I am wrong. What do you know apart from cursing, hatred, bigotry and ignorance?

fstranger:

I do know about the intricacies of Nigeria politics more than you will ever know.
Now run to Idumagbo and get me some spare parts from your brother Nwokocha.

igbobuigbo:

Better a spare parts dealer than a jobless motor park tout Bode, in Ojota, no?

fstranger:

If you say so. Most of the touts drive commercial buses and they keep you in business.
Anyway, whatever you do, you still have to "serve" the interests of the 'Yoruba' man, educated or not.

Now run to 'Alaba' and go get 'Bode' some spare parts for his danfo.

fstranger:

The vast majority of those doing that dirty job still go by names like Emeka, Obi, Nwobodo, Igbobuigbo, Igbo boy etc

igbobuigbo:

Yes, but they work for themselves while Ola, Ade, fstranger, Tinubu, Adisa serve them as gate men and apprentices, while still maintaining their 100% hold on the motor parks as touts.