If Nigerians approach the issue with an open mind and do not ascribe ill-motive to the recent suggestion by elder statesman Mallam Mamman Daura that from 2023 we should jettison zoning and embrace merit, it will be very easy for everyone to participate actively in who becomes president or anything else in the forthcoming elections. Those who want to be candidates and the electorate will have a free hand and a free conscience to determine who becomes Nigeria’s president or other elected officials.
If there are no restriction/limitations concerning region, religion and ethnic origins as the wise elder suggested, what qualities will we be expecting in a Nigerian presidential aspirant and other aspirants into some other offices? Under such a new covenant/agreement, people will now look out for people who possess all or some of the following ennobling qualities: ability, detribalized, broadminded, fair, just, honest, public spirited, prudent, frugal, foresight, visionary, transparent, accountable, etc. Is there any part of this country where people do not have people who have some of these qualities in high esteem?
Why, then, did some Nigerians react unfavourably to Daura’s suggestion? Who among us will hate a president who is intelligent, patriotic, honest and well-meaning and is seen as a president of all Nigerians and not one for his region, religion or tribe? Which region, religion or ethnic group in the country lacks men and women imbued with character and traits listed above? Do we have any cause to believe that in making that call, Daura had his eyes on a particular place? If so, what is the evidence? The almost flat rejection of Daura’s suggestion makes us look as a people who hate good things. But that is not so because majority of Nigerians love good things and will vote for good people if presented.
If we embrace the idea touted by Daura, who are the possible presidential candidates that we may be called upon to consider? Some have mentioned Jagaban Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Peter Obi, former Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Atiku Abubakar, etc. For me who has followed the career of the current FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, I will cast my lot with him.
And my reasons are simple: he is an achiever, a detribalized Nigerian, a prudent manager of men and money and above all, a very capable individual who is trustworthy enough to be entrusted with the heavy burden of running the affairs of Nigeria for the benefit of all. It is not a coincidence that President Muhammadu Buhari made him minister of the Federal Capital Territory. He is in the centre of things and will be central to Nigeria becoming a great nation, joining the comity of nations to fulfill its destiny. His steady hand and calm mien will help to guide this nation to be free of tension, stress and explosion.
One example of Bello’s reasonableness and prudence is the improving capital development, reducing cost if governance. This speaks of creativity and innovativeness in response to a problem. He did not sit down to whine and lament. He confronted a challenge that has assailed his people.
In this portfolio of FCT, he has demonstrated his pan-Nigerianness in dealing with all Nigerians. Before his mounting this seat, the Federal Capital Development Authority was seen as a place for deal-making, especially by occupants who see the place as one to make money in order to stage a gubernatorial bid in their home state. At least the immediate occupant before him did exactly that and succeeded and many others before him tried that and failed. There is nothing wrong in any FCT minister occupying the seat and having his eyes on becoming someone else beyond that tenure. But what was wrong with that is that those who harboured post- FCT ministership ambitions automatically lost their focus as they had divided attention and paid a disproportionate attention to what they hoped to become rather than working to make the FCT a home for all as was the dream of its founding fathers.
The Nigeria of 2023 and beyond requires a person like Bello who takes things one at a time and concentrates on that one thing until results are attained. Because Muhammad Bello has not allowed himself to suffer unnecessary distraction, he has brought stability to the administration of the FCT. Land allocation scandals are a rarity under him as FCT minister. Those who apply for land and meet the requirements are sure to get it. His allocations do not go disproportionately to his people back in Adamawa state as was unfortunately the case with some previous occupants. Such a man is the type that the Nigeria of our dream requires to lead for her salvation. Nigerians should consider him for the presidency of our country.
As head of the National Hajj Commission before being elevated to the FCT minister, Bello had run the place with a high measure of cleanliness setting himself apart from many others who had had to leave the place in disgrace because of their less than transparent and accountable handling of things.
If the rest of Nigerians agree with me, this is the type of candidate we all should enthusiastically support come 2023. As if fate designed that this man is it, age also is very much on the man’s side. We do not need a man who is too old or too young. Muhammad Bello is not too young or too old for Nigeria. He is just okay for Nigeria.
Finally, Nigeria needs urgent and important process to avert break up or revolution which is to urge the National Assembly to change our constitution to make executive office five-year single tenure and encourage the federal government to reduce the number of ministries, parastatals and agencies and lay off 70% of staff or make level 13 down as contract basis and at the same time retirees should be given credit facilities to embark on mechanised farming. The National Assembly and executive should change the pension period to make it mandatory to serve 25 years before being eligible for pension so as to cut the high cost of governance.
Salisu Isa Nataro,
a former governorship candidate in Kebbi, writes from Abuja.