@ katsina times

The regions have maintained their impact despite, the creation of States that led to the modern political nomenclature of Geo-Political Zones.  The six Geo-Political Zones created out of the three or four regions Nigeria had, were Northern, Eastern, Southern and Benin or Mid-Western Regions.  The states and Geo-Political Zones notwithstanding, the people still unite in the name of those regions because they tend to have many things in common.  For that reason we are still having issues with our political sense of belonging especially as it concerns the office of President.  An irony about this matter is that, the real masses, the down trodden who go to the polling booth and vote for a President suffer the same fate across Nigeria irrespective of where the President comes from.  The political elites are the ones who noticed the difference through favourable appointments or otherwise, but not the real electorate.  However, because of the inbuilt care in human beings about ethnicity and religious affiliation they end up dissipating energy over nothing. 

The reason being that, the business man in Ebute Metta, Kantin Kwari or Aba, remains dependent on his business, students in ABU, NSUKKA or Ibadan are struggling to make a meal and go to attend tutorials, the herdsman and farmers remained quarrelling, those living in mud houses are still there over the period of these leaderships whether the leaders are from the North or South, Muslims or Christians despite their meeting in churches or mosques.  They would always tell the people to discard ethnic, religious or regional politics and they ended end-up preaching the escalation of those acts.  Insisting on rotational Presidency, Muslim-Muslim or Muslim – Christian tickets, a Yoruba, Hausa/Fulani or Igbo President, the acts and complaint about appointments either of Yoruba, Igbo, Ijaw, Itsekiri, Hausa/Fulani, Northern Christians or Muslim North as well as claims and counterclaims of marginalization of Igbo, Middle belters, minority groups and the like, are all escalating unnecessary tension in the polity.

For Nigeria to witness the expected level of development we need to respect democracy and abide by its rules.  The backbone of Democracy is the acceptance of the statement that democracy is a game of number and the majority carries the day, while the minority will have their say.  Any attempt to deviate from this norm would surely create gaps that could not understandably be sealed.  One thing about politics is that, the appeal of the party and its candidate plays a role in winning or losing election and not only his ethnic, religious or regional background.  We have examples to give in Nigeria like the Abiola, Obasanjo and Tinubu Elections as well as that of Mohammed Bazoom in Niger Republic.  Abiola won election in 1993 which was annulled when he contested with Bashir Tofa, and defeated Tofa even in Kano State despite the burden of the then, Muslim – Muslim ticket.  Obasanjo was voted into office as President in 1999.  Although he contested with another Yoruba man, but his party the PDP completely lost in the South-West of the Southern part of Nigeria, but the North voted for Obasanjo and he won.  The present day Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu also won through the Northertn Votes in 2023, compared to what he got from the South despite contesting against a northern candidate notwithstanding the loss he suffered in his home state of Lagos.  In Niger Republic, the ousted President Mohammed Bazoum won the Presidential election, even as he belonged to the minority tribe in that country.  Therefore, winning election is not wholly dependent on the number of people from which the candidate comes from, but his ability to navigate and paddle his canoe through the turbulent political waters.  The performance Of Peter Obi at the 2023 elections alleged to have been as a result of Christian block votes from North and South is a proof of the number of Muslim Majority in the country as Tinubu was able to win despite sharing the votes with Atiku, another Muslim Presidential candidate in the election.  The supremacy of northern votes is therefore clearly manifest however they do not opt for it, but report to their party inclination.  We expect this spirit from Southern Nigerian Politicians because the country is one.  While I felt ignoring references is safer for this article because they are too many and could prolong the write up, I may not hesitate to mention two, three or so, for the purpose of guidance. 

The fact that Tinubu is now in power as President of the federal Republic of Nigeria today does not change the narratives that his being on the throne is courtesy of late President Buhari political followership in the north and Nigeria in general.  A piece written on the Nation Newspaper on 14th July, 2025 a day after Buhari’s demise by Tinubu’s man Friday Sam Omatsaye as tribute to Buhari on a paper, believed to be owned by President Bola Tinubu left much to be desired.  Although they are free to talk, going by the dictates of ownership rights, we felt the paper might have the tacit approval of President Tinubu to have published such comments portraying that Tinubu made Buahri President in 2015, but Buhari betrayed him in 2023.  The said tribute was written before he was buried, what was the rush about.  The writer needs to be reminded that, no matter the odds, Tinubu used Buhari as the ladder to get up there.  He may not be aware of the political dynamics that made politicians to act the way they might have acted at a given time.  But it is on record that Tinubu worked to become President from 2007 when he finished his 2nd tenure as Governor of Lagos State.  At the 2007 election Tinubu supported Atiku for President under AC but Atiku got a little over 2 million votes.  He supported Nuhu Ribadu in 2011 under ACN, he also got a little over 2 million votes.  Since late Buhari joined Presidential contest from 2003 to 2011 he always got over 12 million votes, which Tinubu realized and decides to join forces with him in 2015.  Much as the North controlled Nigerian Politics the case of Buhari followership was unique during his time.  Mr. Sam Omatseye should know that had it been Buhari worked against Tinubu, as he wanted us to believe Tinubu couldn’t have made it to Aso Rock even after winning the Primary Election.  Buhari was a great Nigerian leader of Northern Extraction.  Even in death he was generally believed to be honest, even by his worst enemy, the crowd at his burial was a testimony to that.

The hues and cries that trailed his death could be placed in two categories.  The first category could be of those who misunderstood him, as a result, they misinterpreted his actions in accordance with their perceptions.  The second category is for those who took offence for his actions against them.  80% of those in this category, if examined properly are having some questions hanging on their necks that require some answers.  Mr. Friday Sam Omatseye, who the Nation Newspaper described as Tinubu’s man needs to know that the Northern Votes got Tinubu across both at the primary and secondary election levels.  If Buhari had taken proper arms against Tinubu, the story would have been different.  I may wish to refer Omatseye and people like Nysom Wike the FCT Minister to a few of what some of their people from the south say on the power of northern votes, not only for 2023, but previous and future elections in Nigeria.  I particularly mentioned Wike because he has now arrogated to himself the role of the Minister of Information and usurped the powers of the Presidential spokesman at the Villa, coming up with every defence on Tinubu and the advocacy for Southern President.  It is imperative to understand and believe in the fact that democracy is about numbers.  These claims for rotation between northern and southern Nigeria with equality of years of tenure for President between them has no place in democracy.  Those pushing for it in the name of fairness including some Northern Politicians are not being fair to north or south, fairness means giving everyone what is due to him i.e putting things at the right place.  If you give the share of three persons to one person you are not being fair.  Similarly if you give the share of one person to three people you are also not being fair.  To advocate for allowing the South to produce a Presidential candidate is not a fair decision.  Even the coalition ADC is now said to be having some of the members mounting pressure on Atiku and other Northern Aspirants to leave the stage for southern candidates, that is not fair.  All parties should provide free and enabling environment to interested persons, the chance to go across and look for votes irrespective of where they hailed from.  Tinubu got his nomination and eventual win, not because he is from the south, but his ability to reach out to the North and Northern Politicians.  Peter Obi was reported to have said there is an unwritten agreement to rotate the presidency between North and South.  Any unwritten agreement is not an agreement because it means no one has signed it. 

The north gave Tinubu the support as can be witnessed from the Femi Ogunlana letter to the north written on 28th February, 2023 where he says “Northerners are trusted people, they are men of honour, and this election could not have been won by Asiwaju Bola Tinubu without the support of the north.  People can call you names, but you remain true to your words”.  In another statement, a letter signed by MURIC Executive Director Professor Ishaq Akintola described the north as the bastion of honour, Citadel of nobility and the abode of integrity in Nigeria” as Aiwaju was voted despite a northern candidate in the contest.  A presentation by Femi Aribisola in 2014, also says, Nigeria cannot do without the north.  Surprisingly, a report credited to former Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung on 5th March, 2025 says the wife of the President Senator Remi Tinubu was telling Christians minority in the north that, northern Muslims are mobilizing against Tinubu 2027.  What then would Remi Tinubu say about the statement of Babachir David Lawal, a Christian from Adamawa State who says in February, 2025 that Tinubu has to be removed in 2027 to save the north from becoming a large refugee camp in their own country.  But may we say that in another twist, Peter Obi saw the danger of not applying the Democratic rule of playing according to the number when he says in Bauchi on 13th March 2015 that “It is time to stop Ethnic, Religious and Regional Politics and focus on competence and capacity of candidates”.  More so, Dr. Uche Diala cautioned that “as at today the north remain the kingmaker in Nigerian Politics whether we like it or not”. 

Under the circumstance, Nigerians should see themselves as Nigerians, contribute their quota politically and otherwise to move the country forward and avoid unnecessary squabbles over zoning the office of president or who is coming from where as it would do nothing other than keep us at one place marking time with no command to move forward.        

Mansir Lawal Kaware was a former editor at katsina state redio katsina and former chairman NUJ katsina katsina council