By Kolo Andrew

Concerns are growing in Nasarawa State over a recent comment made by a former governor of the state, Abdullahi Adamu, regarding zoning and the state’s 2027 governorship poll.

The unease, which has elicited unfavourable comments from stakeholders, has also led many to debate whether rotation or competence should determine who leads the state in 2027.

Recently, Adamu drew the anger of Nasarawa indigenes at an All Progressives Congress, APC, stakeholders’ meeting in Nasarawa West senatorial zone, where he argued that it was time Nasarawa West Senatorial District produced the next governor after Governor Abdullahi Sule’s tenure ends.

The former senator, who emphasised that since the inception of Nasarawa State in 1996, its founding fathers agreed on a rotational approach to leadership due to the state’s ethnic and political diversity, revealed that this was to ensure each zone had a chance to produce the governor.

To make his point, he told those present at the meeting that “I was the first executive governor. I served eight years. In line with that spirit, I reached out to Nasarawa South and supported Aliyu Akwe Doma, who succeeded me but only served four years. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, also from the South, came in through the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, and completed eight years. After that, power shifted to the North with Governor Sule.”

However, he further said what stakeholders desire is the stability of the state, noting that “what we want is that the rotation that we are doing has helped the state to maintain political stability. Anybody who is working to destabilise that is working to destabilise Nasarawa State. We must say no.”

Like him, Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Dr. Danladi Jatau, also urged stakeholders in the Western zone to unite and pursue the governorship seat in 2027, saying: “I want to thank Senator Adamu for initiating this meeting. We supported other zones, and now it’s our turn. We must avoid betrayal and remain united.”

Both comments drew backlash from critics, who claimed that although zoning was originally conceived to promote equity and national inclusion, it is now being used as a tool for political entitlement and to scheme out individuals from Nasarawa South, which has never produced a governor.

Observers wondered why Adamu did not make a case for the governorship to be rotated to the South, saying Nasarawa South has credible technocrats, seasoned administrators and grassroots mobilizers. 

In fact, some went further to state that the spirit of zoning has already been violated by lopsided appointments, stressing that rather than persistently alienating a region that has shown consistent electoral loyalty, competence and fairness should be the guide.

Stakeholders speak

Meanwhile, concerned stakeholders have shared their thoughts on the issue. One such person is the State Coordinator of the Youth Wing Movement for MAAL, Hasan Ogiri Doma, who described Adamu’s remark as “a calculated shortcut for individuals who lack the structure or political will to earn the trust of the entire state. There is no constitutional provision nor any binding political agreement that mandates zoning in Nasarawa State.”

He said leadership should be earned based on merit, capacity and a track record of service, not on sentimental appeals to geography.

“The people of Nasarawa have consistently demonstrated maturity in choosing leaders based on consensus and performance, not coercion,” Doma said.

Arrangements

Also, a public affairs analyst, Mr Ladan Idi, also expressed sadness over it, and asked if the people of Nasarawa South would ever be loved enough to be considered in the state’s political arrangements.

He said: “Before now, I was in support of the power to be shifted to Keffi Zone, but I withdrew due to marginalisation of the Nasarawa South by this current administration.

“For example, in terms of federal and state appointments, Keffi zone has the following appointments: Dg of humanitarian, Chairman Federal Mortgage Bank, Chairman Nigerian Security and Exchange Commission, a minister, Chairman of Public Complaints Commission.

“At the state level. They have a Speaker of the state House of Assembly, state accountant general, secretary to the state government. Government should come out and tell us the sin of the people of Nasarawa South.

“During the gubernatorial election, Nasarawa South gave more votes than any other zone. The political bigwigs from Nasarawa South were demoralised and most of the political appointees from Nasarawa South are politicians.

“If really the government of Nasarawa state needs the support of the people of Nasarawa South to support government’s choice of candidate from keffi zone, government should make sure to balance the appointments or else we will equally support one of our brothers from Nasarawa South.”

Merit must not be sacrificed

On his part, former Secretary General of the Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Elder Anthony Sani, also criticised the ex-governor for advocating for the governorship to be zoned to Nasarawa West.

Sani, in a statement, also warned that merit must not be sacrificed for an arrangement that only favours a particular group.

His words: “When I read and heard Adamu canvassing for zoning to start in Nasarawa West, popularly known as Keffi zone, I saw no wisdom for his position, which can heat the polity and politics unduly. This is because allowing all aspirants for governor in all three zones to join the fray does not vitiate the principle of zoning. 

“Any zone which produces the governor in 2027 will mark the zone where the second cycle of zoning will begin. In 2031, the other two zones can sort it out among themselves. That way, merit is not sacrificed at the altar of zoning. Also, heating up the politics would be avoided.

“Beginning of the cycle of zoning should not be made an exclusive preserve of any zone. Consider what happened in 1999 when all aspirants from the three zones joined the race. It was when the Keffi zone produced Governor Adamu that the zone marked the beginning of the first cycle of zoning, which will give way for the second cycle in 2027.”

Lopsidedness

To make matters worse, elders in the state have also weighed in on the issue, expressing dismay over the treatment of Nasarawa South.

They stated that since Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999, Nasarawa West (Keffi) zone had governed the state for eight years, Nasarawa South (Lafia) zone had 12 years and Nasarawa North (Akwanga) zone, where Sule, who would be completing eight years in 2027, have all ruled, leaving out Nasarawa South.

Andrew, an economist, is based in Abuja