ISSUES

By Ezo Chris Macoulay 

The issue of P.D.P power rotation in Jeopardy

With reference to a publication by the Ijaw national youth council-western zone, on the above heading in the Vanguard of Wednesday September 12^th 2018, I make bold to say that it is all clamour for power tussle and trading of our franchise to those selfish political party in Nigeria for some time now, with regard to power sharing/rotation are just a gentle man agreement and not of constitutional matter infact constitutionally any Nigeria has right to all elective positions the much you are qualified. Looking back to the early days in Nigeria politics especially after independence of 1960 you will rightly understand that in fairness, justice and equity, political parties in power on gentle man agreement do zone elective and appointive offices along tribal/ethnic lines e.g in the 1^st republic, the ultimate office of the President and prime minister was between the Ibos (Dr. Nnandi Azikiwe) President and the Hausas (Aljh. Abubakar Tafa Balewa) Prime minister of Niger under the primisterial system, the Yoruba never had it then not to talk of other ethnic minority groups that make up Nigeria. At the regional level i.e (1) Northern region was governed by their own the Saduana of Sokoto –Sir Ahmadu Bello (2) Western region was governed by their own (Sir Aderemi – The Oni of Ife) and later Chief Obafemi Awolowo (3) The Easter region- Sir Francis Akanu Ibiam. Infact before the creation of Mid-West region Chief James Ekpre Otobo at the Western House of Assembly, (He Ekpre Otobo) was in charge of Mid-West affairs.

When the military came and sized power by the 1966 Nzogwu coup, Nigeria was under military siege/rule for decades with the civil war that spanned through 1967-1970, while the military rule lasted, of cause by their life style of dictatorship there was nothing like power rotation along tribal or ethnic lines. It was a matter of survival of the fittest soldier, almost all the military Presidents were of Northern stock, except but one or two from the Eastern and Western regions. So the issue of power rotation and sharing along ethnic or tribal line as in political parties of today is more of a threat to our c0-operate political existence, and dangerous to our economic and social progression. While I perused the rejoinder publication in the Vanguard of 12^th September 2018, with the title P.D.P power Rotation in Jeopardy in Delta, by the Ijaw Youth Council (I.Y.C western zone) one would think that it is all clamour and creation of support for one of their own against the other, along ethnic lines. This is not healthy at all, at this time that Nigeria’s Democracy must be allowed to grow to fruition, so as for Southern Deltans and Deltans/Nigeria is in general reap the benefit of democracy.

I also think that the youth organization’s debate is narrowing this issue of power rotation to themselves alone, be it Ijaw youth council (IYC), Itsekeri National Youth Council (INYC) Urhobo youth forum, Isoko national youth council, Arewa youth, Odua Youth and Ndigbo youth. It should not be as if the over eighty million Nigerians eligible voters have no right choose a good leader transparently through their franchise.

On this premise the youths forum are advised to tread the Nigerian political terrain, be it in Delta South or Delta in general with care, bearing in mind that the era of thuggery in politics is no more favourable for our growing democracy and elections, just because you want your own alone, rather your clamour for a candidate as a youth should not be selfish but should be for the general good of all concerned.

Politics and democracy in the advanced world which we in Nigeria imitate, in all spheres of life ranging from Education, science and trade are done maturely with respect for all concerned, politics of rancor, fighting illegally with arms will only scuttle our growing democracy and spill innocent blood of our teaming youths who should prepare to take this Nation forward in the future.

On the whole- in Delta south politics particularly, I however commend the efforts of the various ethnic youth organization, who from time to time act as a powerful section of the society, check balancing our political leaders, who may want to be in power for their selfish interest time without end, so but for the effort of the youths in check balancing our present day politicians; the impact of democracy would never have been felt by the masses.

In conclusion of this analysis and observations to the argument by both the Iteskeri National youth council and that of Ijaw youth council western zone, I guessed that their position in the matter of power rotation is the crux of their tussle in Delta South Senatorial District, but it should be noted that the majority of indigenes that make up Delta south geopolitical area are not Ijaws or Iteskiris alone as they rightly mentioned in the publication, the Isokos and a skeletal number of Urhubos are in Delta South and they have their own youth bodies as well.

Critically therefore, your say (INYC and IYC) does not automatically predict which (indigene of the three ethnic groups that make up Delta South) will take the Delta south senatorial seat.

Also note (IYC and INYC) that your argument on all ‘gentle man’ agreement reached in P.D.P of then, may never hold water as decamping and cross- carpeting of members in the various Nigeria’s political parties is now the inthing.

So, choosing a candidate in Delta state is not constitutionally a right of P.D.P alone on who shall represent Deltans at the various levels of representation both at the state and national houses of Assembly come 2019.