A group known as the Young
Nigerian Professionals says the comment of Mamman Daura, nephew of President
Muhammadu Buhari, on zoning, was taken out of context.
In an interview with BBC Hausa,
Daura had said it is better for competence to prevail over zoning.
“This turn by turn, it was done
once, it was done twice, it was done thrice… It is better for this country to
be one…it should be for the most competent and not for someone who comes from
somewhere,” he had said.
Responding, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, apex Igbo socio-cultural
group, had said Daura should have opposed zoning before the 2019 elections.
On his part, Edwin Clark, elder
statesman and leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), asked the
president’s nephew not to jeopardise the country’s unity with his comments.
But Charles Folayan, a spokesman
of the group, said those who criticised Daura over his comments did not take
time to study what the elder statesman said.
“The reactions of the
socio-cultural groups like Ohanaeze, Afenifere among others to Malam Daura’s
remarks were too quick, that they did not appreciate the substance of his
important comments,” he said.
“Any politician or leader in
fact, that is serious with the development and growth of this country will tell
you that Nigeria needs to move away from that pattern of zoning
baton-leadership.
“It does not, and cannot
guarantee us the kind of credible and sophisticated leadership Nigeria needs at
this point.
“Nigeria needs competent
leadership — that must not be put in doubt. And this competent leadership can
come from any zone of the country: whether the south-east, the south-south or
the south-west, the north-east, the north-central or the north-west.
“What we want to have on the
ballot are options that offer us credible and meritocratic leaders, not leaders
based on ethnic or religious sentiments.
“It is unfortunate that leading
socio-cultural groups in the country have clothed these innocuous and critical
commentary with the garb of ethnicity.”
Folayan advised people to reserve
their comments until the full interview is aired by BBC Hausa.
“The complete interview is yet to
be aired on BBC Hausa. People have not listened to the full interview and the
media is picking points already. BBC Hausa will air it on Saturday — until the
full interview is concluded, we should reserve our comments,” he said.
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