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Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa wants rotational presidency in Nigeria
By Samuel Torlumun
Conversations being advanced in support of rotational presidency and direct primaries has got another boost as Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, convener of The New Nigeria Group, (NNG), and presidential aspirant under the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) says it is the best option for Nigeria’s sociopolitical formation and circumstance.
Ohuabunwa stated his position while speaking to journalists on his presidential ambition in Abuja, on Tuesday.
The presidential hopeful who referred to his book, titled, ‘Nigeria; Need for Evolution of a New Nation’, published in 2010, posited that given Nigeria’s level of political development, ethnic diversity and lack of conscious effort to unite and harmonize the diverse groups, there is need to fashion an arrangement that will create a sense of belonging and inclusiveness.
He added that, taking into cognizance an arrangement that protects the minority and majority until Nigeria get to a revolutionary point where zoning becomes irrelevant is what the country needs to nurture her democracy.
Going further, Ohuabunwa argued that it was on that bases of this fairness that the 1999 constitution provided for Federal Character. The essence as he pointed out, was that no single group, tribe and religion should dominate public space or political offices.
“Therefore, Federal Character should apply to the office of the President of Nigeria, which is occupied by one person at a time. What it means is that, no one group shall continue to produce the president all the times.
“This therefore, makes a way for power rotation, so that every part of the nation will feel that they belong to this country.
“So for me, it is important that we zone till every geopolitical zone of this country gets it. When that happens, then, we can again, collectively jettison zoning.
“It is not when it is your turn, you say it is your turn, and when it is another person’s turn, you start preaching that we should stop zoning. It can’t be done unilaterally. We all have to agree”. He said.
The advocacy expert said it is not be reasonable, especially for the PDP that has rotation of power in her constitution between North and South will come to the “middle of it and tell stories”.
Also speaking about party consensus for emergence of flag-bearer for the PDP, the former MAN boss said, it will end up giving the party a wrong candidate, if consensus is adopted.
He said since leadership is not a commodity that could be bought, it is imperative for someone vying to lead will be adjudged base on the quality of vision he puts forward.
“You can’t just sit and say it should be this man. What does the man has to deliver? What does he understand about needs of the people? So consensus does not arise here, because we may be picking a wrong choice, or using wrong criteria for selecting a candidate.
“That is why we want direct primaries. Let the people who own the party decide base on what they see in the person. His pedigree, the solution he has, his level of competence, courage, content of his character among other attributes”, he explained.
