2023: El-Rufai’s call for scrapping of zoning system. Why it matters

The media space, weekend, has been awash with stories of Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s call for scrapping of the zoning system, a political philosophy adopted by most political parties to ensure that no section of the country enjoys monopoly of power at the detriment of other stakeholders.

El-Rufai, who is Governor of Kaduna State, wants the system jettisoned for competence. His views are reportedly contained in a prologue he penned in a book—Power of Possibilities and Politics of Change in Nigeria—written by the Director-General of the Progressives Governors’ Forum, Salihu Lukman.

Titled, ‘Defeating a Determined Incumbent – The Nigerian Experience’, El-Rufai, in no mistaken terms, described the zoning of political offices as a major limiting factor to good governance and enthronement of a culture of excellence at all levels.

“Even with our success in the 2015 elections, there is room for improvement. Barriers to political equality, such as our seemingly entrenched though informal rule for zoning candidacies according to regions of origin, need to be de-emphasised and ultimately abandoned in favour of an emphasis on qualification, competence and character,” he said.

El-Rufai’s call has quickly stoked debates, especially among some critics who, though support his call for competence-based leadership, argue that the diminutive Governor is not totally genuine about his position.

Critics are quick to point out that his pontifications on the zoning system may have been largely driven by his speculated 2023 presidential ambition.

Neither El-Rufai nor Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State is yet to deny reports from a section of the Nigerian media that both are plotting a joint ticket ahead of the 2023 presidential poll. The rumours are that the two are quietly strategizing to checkmate Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s grand plans for the same election, though the All Progressives Congress (APC) national leader has since offered what many term a feeble denial of his speculated moves.

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Doubts have also been cast over El-Rufai’s true intentions as the weekend report coincides with a feature on the DG of Progressives Governors Forum who, a day earlier, had, on behalf of APC Governors, issued a strongly-worded letter accusing the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, of destroying the party.

In the letter titled, “APC: Appeal for Reconciliation,” Lukman wrote:

“My distant observation is that there is hardly any difference between your (Oshiomhole’s) approach to managing the party and the way Chief John Odigie-Oyegun had managed it during his tenure. Instead, things have really got worse and painfully, it would appear that you are in denial of this reality.”

Critics are struggling to come to terms with both features taking frontline space on Nigerian newspapers a day after the other.

Yet, there is another point of intrigue, and it has to do with another coincidence. This time, it is the Coalition for Northern Groups (CNG) whose points-man, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, has argued that it was of no benefit to the North to continue holding on to power in 2023.

He is reported to have said in a newspaper interview, “What needs to be done by the North is not to insist that power must remain in the region which in any case, does not even serve the interest of the larger population of northerners.

“What is important at this point is for the northern political leadership to renegotiate its current alliance with the South West which has never been North’s political ally.

“The alliance is already turning out to be unhealthy. We are already calling on the northern elders and leaders to review the region’s position by realigning with our traditional political friends which are the South East and South-South.”

While El-Rufai’s real intentions may remain under wraps, what must be admitted is that the contest for which region retains the presidency would be fierce and demanding.

A reminder of what could play out are the statements credited to two South-west political heavy weights, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Raji Fashola who, in the build up to the 2019 general elections, called on the Yorubas to return Muhammadu Buhari for a second term if they desired power to return to their region in 2023.

Interestingly, Buhari, speaking recently, has distanced himself from any plans to influence who his successor would be. Will this seeming disposition open the door to a riotous power struggle within and outside APC?

Only time can tell if El-Rufai is working alone or acting as a rallying force for radical northern elements who care little about fair play but more about how the north would continue its political dominance, due largely to its perceived share of the voting population in the country.

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