The Chief Executive Officer of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN) also a former Commissioner of Health in Plateau State, Dr. Patrick Dakum has stated that Nigeria cannot afford to jettison zoning now in her democratic pursuits saying it is one those arrangements put in place to alley the fear of domination and to ensure equity and justice in the political system.

Speaking with newsmen in Jos, Dr. Dakum who said the zoning embraced since the beginning of this dispensation has stabilized the polity to some extent and watered down complain of political domination added that the concept was put in place for every parts of the country irrespective of seize and population to have a sense of belonging, inclusion and participation in governance.

According to him, zoning is the best for the country now because it gives people the freedom and opportunity to be involved in establishing and running the government of their choice at different level adding that if only specific areas were allowed to produce leadership based on their numerical strength it will breed bitterness and crisis on the long run.

Said he:”Origin of zoning is to give inclusion to every part of the country; we need to protect the minority and make them have a sense of belonging. We have not reached a level where we can jettison zoning; there is zoning even in US but in a different context. But in Nigeria we talk about it term of political appointments. Our country is still being referring to as developing country; so we must protect the interest of the minority”.

“However, I did not support zoning that did not respect qualification; you cannot say because of the zoning system you lower the bar. If we make it transparent, the country has enough qualified people everywhere. My support for zoning is without prejudice to qualification, skills and capability that goes with the office, like in Plateau State a local government can produce the entire State Executive, zoning is still important to ensure equity and fairness”.

He also condemned the postulation in some quarters that majority should always get the best in term of distribution of resources and projects adding that the needs of every community should be put into consideration and also in line with their population and size.

“I think the need of the people should be put into consideration, resources should be spread irrespective of whether minority or majority, those in majority need amenities that will commensurate with their population just as the minority too need amenities that is commensurate with their population as well. Human needs do not understand minority and majority, so it should be based on the need of every community. God created the majority to protect the minority but not to oppress them, let us approach human issues according to their level of need”.

Dr. Dakum who is also aspiring to contest for the governorship of Plateau state comes 2023 commended those who had governed the state in the past and those still serving for the contributions to the development of the state adding that all their achievements need to be consolidated, harmonized for further development of the state.

Said he:”If you are not willing to be part of solution to problem don’t talk about it, to me it is a call to service because to whom much is given much is expected, if God has given me the opportunity to know what development is all about, I believe God has prepared me to serve”.

Pam Moses

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Nigeria can’t afford to abandon zoning — Dr. Dakum