Zoning or Power Shifting is the mechanism of uniting various diverse people while the political parties are the vehicle for realizing democracy.
Zoning is the art of shifting or sharing political offices to various geo-political zones or districts in a bid to balance the political equation. The rotation of political offices was designed, orchestrated and schemed towards curbing the hues, cries and agitation of MARGINALIZATION by some geo-political zones or districts and to bring a lasting peace and stability in our polity.
Party politics and zoning/power shift are two very important elements of any liberal democracy that no one can brush aside with a wave of hand in a primordial state like Kogi State.
The call by Igalas not to adopt zoning in Kogi State, seriously under estimates and ignores the complex political character with different senatorial districts in Kogi State.
The issue of zoning in party politics date back to the Second Republic when National Party of Nigeria (NPN) operated the zoning formula as a strategy for the reunification of the country after the civil war.
Kogi state is a heterogeneous state with diverse political districts so I think power shift or zoning as the case may be is the only way forward for our amiable state because of our different senatorial districts.
When the North under the military regime held power for too long the South cried marginalization and if you say that rotation is not needed, if the South holds power for too long on the basis of credible leadership the North will feel schemed out and will cry foul and vice versa. So to balance our differences, to settle our heterogeneity, and our ties to different political districts, zoning still remains the best for our states in particular.
It is true that zoning of the office of the President or Governor is not constitutional; but it is in the constitution of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that propounded it. I refer to the PDP Constitution, Article 7 subsection 2(c ) which states that  “In pursuance of the principles of equity, justice and fairness, the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of party and public elective offices, and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels ” (PDP constitution, 1999).
Unity in diversity is our nature; it is in our culture, our language and disposition. Therefore let us not allow any politician out of greed, over ambition or selfishness to manipulate, pervert, subvert or compromise this golden rule of zoning. But rather, respect the zoning principle which is based on the equity and justice. If we understand this, we will have no problem.
Based on these facts, and for the promotion of peace and stability, fairness and equity the next governor should come from Central or West Senatorial district even the opposition party is quite aware of this P.D.P gentleman agreement despite it has been taunted by the greed politician. Failure of PDP or APC to zone the governorship ticket to the west or central will lead the party to loss the power to SDP, which might likely give the gubernatorial ticket to Central or western senatorial district will take the day even if its SDP. Let us promote unity in diversity in Kogi State, with zoning; the cries for marginalization will be led to rest. There will be peace and political stability in the state.
Regionalism and Sectionalism is natural in our polity and it is to create peaceful co-existence, mutual understanding, rapid development and societal changes in all the senatorial districts. Kogi State should do what is right by accepting the demand of the Central & Western Senatorial District to achieve Equity, Justice and Fairness in the policy.
Comrade Adabara Abduljelil El-Okene is an Advocate of Peace & Justice and Secretary General, Ebira Youths Peace/Educational Development Initiative, Okene, Kogi State.Nigeria. Contact on 08036415151 or 08015157303
