2023 Presidency: Competence, Not Zoning, Should Be Deciding Factor – Yahaya Bello

• “Let us get a credible, sincere, patriotic Nigerian to fix it“

Yahaya Bello, governor of Kogi, says the concept of zoning of the presidency has strangulated Nigeria’s growth and development.

Bello called for the abrogation of the convention ahead of the 2023 election, noting that electing the person that will lead the country should be based competence.

The governor made the call when he spoke to journalists after a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday.

He asserted that “rotational presidency” has outlived its usefulness and no longer fashionable.

Rather than the zoning arrangement, the governor asked Nigerians to go for the “best candidate”, irrespective of where the person comes from.

“For once, let’s get Nigeria fixed. We have practised as seemingly rotational presidencies since 1999 to date. Let us evaluate our successes or achievements from this seeming rotational presidency between then and now,” he said.

“Why don’t we simply go for the best? After all, we copied this democracy from America and some of the developed countries. How many of these countries are practising traditional presidency? You see, we are where we are today not because we are practising rotational presidency.

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“If you want to go by that rotational presidency, then do perfect zoning. Go by perfect rotation. And if you go by rotation and whichever way you come from, I don’t think you should exclude where I come from. That’s number one.

“Number two, let us get a credible, sincere, patriotic Nigerian to fix it. If you’re flying an aircraft, you don’t ask who is the pilot? If you undergo operation in a hospital, you wouldn’t ask “which doctor is this?’ ‘Is he from your zone, your tribe, your religion?’ All you want is the best pilot to fly you safely to your destination. All you want is the best doctor to handle you and deliver you safely from the operation.

“I think Nigeria is at that point now of seeking the best from anywhere in this country, irrespective of where he comes from. Thereafter, you balance in position to reflect equity, fairness and justice. That is my position.”