…A pivotal moment in redefining democracy for a new and greater Nigeria.
Nigeria is a cosmopolitan country with over 370 ethnic groups and over 500 languages, the most widely spoken of which are Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri, Fulani, and Ijaw (Wikipedia).
Following the arrival of the 4th republic in 1999, the country’s major political parties began to consider zoning as an option for internal democracy, which gave a Christian southerner the chance to govern the country for eight (8) consecutive years, Power was later handed over to a Muslim northerner.
Unfortunately, the Second elected President, the first northerner to be president since 1999, died in office, raising eyebrows among the political space in the country where the northern bloc kept clamouring for the right to complete their eight years as agreed, causing a lot of tension across the country hence, politicians from all sides used religion to further increase the tension.
However, the current notion that every southerner is a Christian or every northerner is a Muslim must be reverted and obliterated for Nigeria to match forward as a developing country and the African giant. Nigerians should have a broader view and promote detribalized individuals with excellent pedigree in all aspects of life for the sake of unity.
Moreover, what is now commonly referred to as ‘north’ and ‘south’ are merely competing interests of small political elites, rather than the presumed geographical expression, which I now want my fellow Nigerians to look away from and stand for whatever is just and true by electing those who are best suited to fit every round peg in a round hole.
Considering this people, Asiwaju Bola Ahmad Tinubu, a Muslim southerner and the party leader of the Progressive Congress, and the Governor of Plateau state who doubled as Chairman Northern Governors forum, Mr Simon Lalong would aid the ruling party in eliminating the rat race and dispelling the myth that Nigeria democracy is prone to bigotry.
Asiwaju Tinubu, the two-term Governor of Lagos State, who has made meritocracy a criterion for cabinet selection during his tenure, the man who has never allowed his position as Lagos State Governor to be a barrier to appointing competent and technocrats to run his state’s public sector, he makes appointments beyond the walls of Lagos state as such he is seen as a visionary man beyond doubt. Asiwaju is a fountain of ideas with unbeatable strategy for identifying talents and executing his task effectively and efficiently.
This is the man we need at this critical juncture to change the narrative and put an end to nepotism and favouritism, and to push forward a Nigeria of our dreams, where we would start walking the walk, harnessing our potential, and further deliberate on solutions in line with global best practises that will put an end to this lingering insecurity, poverty, hunger, and unemployment, among other things bedeviling our Nation.
To me and other Pan-Nigerians, Asiwaju/Dalong is an ordained project that will rescue bigotry in our political space while also redefining the moment for a new and greater Nigeria.
A Nigeria where Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo, Kanuri, and Fulani all regard one another as brothers and sisters, a Nigeria where meritocracy is a benchmark, a Nigeria with a road map and a working system.
A Nigeria that we all want, I assure you, is possible with Asiwaju, and it will be fascinating to combine the two indefatigable personalities.
Let us support and rally around this project, in God we trust.
Muhammad TAG is a comrade and a pan-Nigeria writing from Abuja, Nigeria.
Muhtag704@towncrierng