Less than two years to the 2027 general elections, the political atmosphere is becoming tense with hue and cry for leadership with the minority advocating for participation and the majority also calling for level-playing ground with no compromise to emotional appeal.
Stakeholders are divided on the grounds of power rotation arrangement across states of the federation. Unwavering in the argument is the call for a free-for-all participation at the expense of equity or fairness to marnalised segments. However, there is growing consensus among the discerning that unless people feel involved and given equal opportunities to the mantle of leadership, then feelings of marginalization and injustice sows the seeds of discord in any society.
In Nasarawa State at a zonal stakeholders meeting in Keffi organized by former National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Sen. Abdullahi Adamu, the elder statesman said power rotation was a gentleman’s agreement reached by the state's stakeholders in 1996. For peace, stability and equity, this arrangement must be respected.
Sen. Adamu suggested that the stakeholders must stand up to take up their birth rights, arguing that it was a constitutional right for all to contest, but to align with the existing zoning arrangement, power must be shifted to Keffi zone for political stability and unity of the state.
This guidance by the former governor was greeted with resounding applause and endorsement by key stakeholders from the zone including the APC National Legal Adviser, the Minister of Women Affairs, current and former top Government officials, APC gubernatorial aspirants and leadership of the APC across the Zone.
From history, the state was first governed democratically by Abdullahi Adamu from Nasarawa West for a consecutive eight-year term succeeded by Aliyu Akwe-Doma from Nasarawa South who ruled for four years and Tanko Almakura whisked over power from the former on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and ruled for eight years which is believed to have contravened the unwritten zoning arrangement of the Nasarawa stakeholders. This has reinforced the southern zone's governorship strength to have held power for twelve years.
In 2019, as calls continued to amplify for equity despite Nasarawa North's lean demographic strength, power was shifted to the zone to accommodate all interests and to cement cohesion, the incumbent, Abdullahi Sule from Akwanga came and took over the reins of power from Almakura to lead the state.
As Sule rounds off his second term in office, the growing demand for power to be rotated in accordance with the 1996 gentleman's agreement agreed upon by the agitators who worked thick and thin for the creation of the state from the then Plateau as a result of political dominance and marginalization, has become wild and pervasive.
Again, history cannot be forgotten, in 2014, a tense violence broke out in the state under the influence of the ethnically-colored political tension in the guise of "Ombatse". That tension was induced by gross feeling of marginalization by ethnic champions in the northern zone of the state including Lafia to amplify the need to tilt the pendulum of power to Nasarawa North with the belief of enhancing political stability, equity and fairness for all. And finally power was shifted to Nasarawa North.
Currently, political power brokers have come again to insist on the sustainability of the agreement as a vital option for peace, development and equitable representation.
Interestingly, the National Legal Adviser of the APC, Prof. Abdulkareem Kana, who also attended the meeting as a stakeholder, was of the opinion that no room should be given for anti-party activities and the call for zoning must be sustained for a candidate from the Nasarawa West to fly the party's flag as it has not felt the reins of governorship for almost two decades.
Political bigwigs from the zone and public commentators argue that the western district has viable aspirants tested, trusted and equipped with competence, integrity and leadership charisma.
According to Munzali Isa, a Keffi Youth leader, said "politics is a game of number, tactics and strengths. We have the numerical strength to do that. Our aspirants from this zone are reputable. Why can't we support them? The party and people must rally around them as we also rallied around our sister zones in the last twenty years".
He insisted that there has to be fair sharing of everything especially political positions and "our desire is the governorship".
"The Federal Character principle enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended) preaches equality. This is what we have to stand by as others have enjoyed, we should bring back the position to the West again".
"Stakeholders from Nasarawa South and North have to support our clarion calls. Our state has to remain united. We can only move with unity and equity for all. This has to be our time with all honesty".
Some pundits believe that the move to leave the governorship contest open for all is an orchestrated conspiracy by some stakeholders of the party to overtake power from the western zone when it is their time to enjoy governorship seat after about 20 years away from the seat.
As the 2027 governorship election is fast approaching, analysts are beginning to wonder whether the internal arrangements of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will support the principle of zoning.
Pundits wonder how there are aspirants from Nasarawa South who have come to vie for the number one seat when they have had more than a fair share of the power since states creation. Lafia has the state capital, although Lafia emirate was not the most senior traditional council in hierarchy during state creation, Keffi Zone conceded the Chairmanship of traditional council to Lafia. Lafia has also enjoyed the most development since the advent of democracy. It now appears that the people of Lafia wish to dominate other zones. Furthermore, the feelers are that Senator Tanko Almakura is not in support of zoning. This could jeopardize his quest to be the APC National Chairman as this position is not statesmanly and is thought to be unpopular in highest echelons of power.
For Governor Sule, at the zonal stakeholders meeting, he said his preferred candidate would be announced at the appropriate time. Still that has gripped more fears on the disposition of the governor on whom to select as his successor.
However, a major litmus test lies in whether the aspirants can sacrifice their personal interests for the common political desire of the zone to produce the next governor.
Discussions are still tilted to having a candidate of world-view that would consolidate on the successes of the present government.
The acrimony within the ruling APC in the zone must be a concern to unite and front a formidable candidate that will be supported by all. That must be a person of integrity, acceptability, accessibility, competence and loyalty to the people and everyone.
