Two months after the House of Representatives rejected a constitutional amendment bill seeking to rotate the offices of the president and vice president among the six geopolitical zones in the country, the debate on power rotation is still raging. The lawmakers had on May 13, voted against the bill sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, titled: “A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Cap. C23, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Provide for the Principle of Rotation of the Offices of the President and the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria among the six geopolitical zones of the country, Namely: North Central, North East, North West, South East, South South, and South West and for Related Matters.” The bill was one of seven proposed constitutional amendments listed for consideration during the plenary session.
Among the arguments in support of the bill was that every zone should have a taste of the presidency for purposes of equity and fairness. Opponents of the legislation, however, argued that power rotation should be between the North and South geographical divides of the country and not the geo-political zones. They added that political parties, not the constitution, should decide on zoning.
Since the rejection of the bill by the House of Representatives, the agitation for the constitutional recognition of the power rotation principle has not ceased. The National President of the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Bitrus Pogu, and erstwhile Senator for Kaduna Central, Shehu Sani, recently spoke in favour of the power rotation among the geo-political zones. Sani said the arrangement will give a sense of belonging to every part of the country to produce leadership. Pogu stressed that power rotation is imperative because Nigeria has not reached a stage where anyone can be president for as long as possible. “We have not yet become a nation and because of that, every nationality or section or religious groups only think of themselves rather than thinking of Nigeria and that is why the rotational presidency is necessary,” he argued.
Before now, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar had proposed the rotation of the presidency between the North and South and among the six geo-political zones in the country. Atiku had particularly sought amendment of Section 130 (1) of the Constitution to read “the office of the president shall rotate among the six geopolitical zones of the Federation on a single term of six years flowing between the North and South on the single term of six years respectively.”
Rotation of political offices at the federal, state and local government levels has become a running issue in the country. It was one of the key recommendations of the National Political Reforms Conference (NPRC) of 2005. It has remained a recurring demand by ethnic groups and regions in the country. The apex Igbo socio-political group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, had through its Elders Council recommended that for equity, justice and fairness, rotating the country’s presidency within its six geo-political zones be made constitutional. According to the group, limiting the power rotation to North and South arrangement is vague and should therefore be addressed.
The current arrangement where rotation of power operates informally at party level is arbitrary and is open to abuse. Considering the complexities of Nigeria’s politics, certain ethnic groups may not easily attain the highest office in the land without a seamless constitutional arrangement. Making rotation of power constitutional will enable each group occupy the office at a precise time. Such an arrangement will reduce the fierce competition for the presidency.
Power rotation will ensure political stability. It will encourage political inclusion. Zoning the presidency among the regions will address the marginalisation of some sections of the country and curb restiveness in some parts of the country. It will also reinforce the federal character principle which ensures each region being carried along in distribution of key offices.
The exigencies of the time require rotational presidency for the country. Rotation of the presidency is an idea that cannot be wished away. Rotation of key political offices among the zones will give every region a sense of belonging. It will guarantee justice, equity and fairness among the geo-political zones in the country. It is good that that the principle is already being experimented in some states. Let the practice be extended to the national level. The National Assembly should revisit the bill seeking rotation of power, fine-tune its grey areas and pass it into law.