Dino Melaye Faults Zoning Arrangement, Says It’s ‘Archaic’

• Melaye argued that in most developed countries of the world like the US, power-sharing deals like zoning are not practiced

• He accused governors and politicians of selfishness, claiming they are marginalising people in their states

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Senator Dino Melaye has faulted Nigeria’s power-sharing deal, insisting it does not exalt excellence and meritocracy.

“After 60 years of independence, it will be myopic, porous, parochial, archaic, and analogue thinking to still be talking about zoning,” he said on Channels Television’s Politics Today amid debates over the zoning of the presidential seat.

“We must graduate from a mediocre society to a meritorious society where the best foot is being put forward.”

Melaye argued that in most developed countries of the world like the US, power-sharing deals like zoning are not practiced.

He recalled his attempt to introduce a bill baring the usage of state of origin in Nigeria, maintaining that the country should be a “stateless” nation.

“Instead of having the quota system and saying some states are at disadvantage, we should open the space to merit as practiced in other civilised climes across the globe,” he insisted.

Senator Melaye accused governors and politicians of selfishness, claiming they are marginalising people in their states.

“So, I am saying the space should be open for the best so that you don’t restrict those who have the capability,” he argued.

Nigeria, he said, should evolve just as the world is moving towards better ways of doing things. He compared the zoning arrangement to a man still taking baby food even when he has outgrown that. For Melaye, Nigeria should outgrow the power-sharing formula and move from “analogue thinking to digital reasoning”.

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“The food you eat as a child is different from the one you take as an adult,” the Kogi-born Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain said.

“After 20 years of democracy and after 60 years of independence, you cannot continue to think of zoning. Is America zoning?”

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