ZONING: Our Quick – Fix, Mediocre Panacea

I recall picking up university matriculation examination forms more than a decade and half ago and going through the accompanying brochure. It was interesting to observe that some states in Nigeria fell under a classification “Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS)” and I recall wishing that I hailed from one of those states, because the university entry requirements for those states were less ‘stressful’ than it was for the rest of the country. It was after a few years that I began to understand what I call the Standard Operating Procedures of our fast failing Nigerian state. Shortly after, I discovered that there was an ‘indigenisation’ policy present in many state owned institutions. That, I thought, was probably designed to even educational development among geo-political divisions of the states. It was however subsequently disturbing to observe that Federal Universities (a commonwealth of every citizen of Nigeria) was beginning to adopt the same retrogressive approach as well. There was still more ahead. Others I recall are ‘catchment area’, ‘derivation formula’, ‘littoral states’ ‘rotational presidency’, etc Many years have passed now and today I look back and with a heavy heart at the state of our nation – reeking of failures – known and unknown from non-existent infrastructure. The truth to be told is that electricity supply is a national embarrassment, our airports are as problematic as their conveyor belts, the air is heavily polluted by generator fumes and there is almost nothing of pride – not even the Super Eagles.

The gory state of our dear country did not however start off with us when we gained independence from British Lords. Nigeria was once the pride of Africa. We had Africa as the focus of our foreign policy. We were the bastion of the renowned cultural heritage of black people the world over. We once had a national currency stronger than the American Dollar. Ghanaians flocked to Nigeria in hordes to enjoy from our wealth and we were generally a happy people. But like every bad thing ends, so does the good. We had bad leaders take over and selfishly entrenching sectarian values. We had leaders dividing rather than uniting. Nigeria lost it and we began to create easy paths to bad successes. We became a nation of shortcuts. ‘Educationally Less Developed States’ as a policy is nothing but a philosophy of laziness -one that corrupts the development of the mind. If all of Nigeria got independence at the same time, such a concept has no permanent place. It is this thinking, this philosophy of nothingness, replicated in converging patterns in organs largely responsible for our development that has practically brought the nation to her knees abegging basic development. Enrolment in these ELDS has not in any way improved the educational status of the states enjoying that unfortunate status. A check with all examination bodies will reveal that much. We abhor merit. It is anathema to us - reason why we have nothing to show for 50 years of independence.

Today we are continuously erring along the same paths. The North believes in zoning today but didn’t believe it in over 30 years of ruling the nation. The South South believe it is ‘their time’ but not because they have a particularly defined and serious path to Nigerian glory save that they have a son in the saddle and ‘it is their turn’ anyway. Mediocrity left, right and center. Remember the South West was ‘compensated’ with an Obasanjo presidency – a presidency that was all noise without any eye on the future. We are in the days of politics without leadership, compensation above capability, zoning over prosperity. Political concepts and ideas that are terminally diminutive, nationally ineffectual, endemically sickening. Is this the Nigeria that can groom a world cup team? Hell NO! The best hands hardly get the jobs. The best hands, whether they are from minority or majority, recognised or unrecognised, with tribal marks or stretch marks should get the job and get the job done. Nigeria needs to rise beyond the trivial issues of our political philosophies of transient fixes as a nation. If elections were rigged for the best hands, we may have been half worse off but elections are rigged for people who have no clues about the deliverables of their offices. The distribution and administration of financial largesse seems to be the primary responsibilities of public office holders today and so long as we continue to accommodate this, we may never have that life of our dreams anytime soon.

As much as political expediency may necessitate certain interventions such as zoning, a nation and her people should pursue the overriding interest of all through processes that are transparently designed to increase the potentials for a better life. If we continue to colour our perspectives with ethnic sentiments, demographic characteristics, educational heroics, entrepreneurial dominance, we may as well continue with the macabre dance to the unknown. If Jonathan Goodluck should win a party’s ticket, it should be because the party is convinced he is better able to deliver on governance requirements as opposed to the design of the cap on his head. We choose the best for those we love. We love Nigeria and should want to do the best for her by adopting meritocracy – so that we can actually develop. Every section of this country can fill any position. The other approaches have failed and as they say, you cannot achieve change doing the same failing thing.


Wole T. Aguda
29/06/2010