“All things are LAWFUL for me, but all things are not EXPEDIENT; all things are LAWFUL to me, but all things EDIFY NOT.”… 1 Corinthians 10: 23.
I am constrained to appeal to the sense of expediency of all Nigerians, and for the edification of Nigeria, that now is the time for patriots of this country, across party lines and ethnic nationalities, to work for the emergence of a Nigerian President of South East extraction in 2023. Why? It is the EXPEDIENT thing to do.
To build a more perfect union requires the majority of Nigerians, if not all, to sacrifice for what is expedient and edifying. Nigeria, being a union of nationalities, should not be seen to endorse actions that appear to alienate a huge part of the same union.
About 22 years ago, Nigeria did what was expedient (not lawful) in order to accommodate the Southwest, which was commendable. Almost a quarter of a century after that (in 2023), Nigeria should do the same for the Southeast. Those who may wish to argue otherwise have a right to, but must look at the overall interest of Nigeria.
After the Southeast, Northcentral, and Northeast have all had their spot in the Nigerian presidency (even for single terms), then, geopolitical considerations for the Nigerian presidency should be completely discarded.
But, it would be unfair to jettison it halfway on the excuse that such arrangement is “unconstitutional” when half of the six zones have benefitted from the arrangement, but the remaining half (Southeast, Northcentral, and Northeast) are yet to have their turn.
CONCLUSION:
By my estimation, by 2047 at most, no reference to geopolitical zoning of the Nigerian presidency should be made. What I say about the Nigerian presidency, I say about the governorship and legislative elections. Let what is expedient be done so that by 2047 no reference to zoning should be made with respect to political elections in Nigeria. This could be legislated upon.
Those that have ears, let them hear.
Leonard Karshima Shilgba
General Overseer
Bible Clinic Ministry