Delta 2015: Why we should forget Rotation. Political rotation concisely entails moving political opportunities from one segment of a political structure to another. Political rotation became popular and the term almost assuming an axiomatic status in our political landscape, due to the pluralistic and controversial nature of our socio-political geography. Political rotation simply put is a turn by turn political arrangement, which often jettison meritocracy, competence, capacity, capabilities, equal right and political justice. It is a political arrangement that shuts the democratic door against the best, relying on a senseless excuse of "it is not yet their turn". The Oyi of Oyi and one time Senate President of Nigeria, Late Chief. Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, GCON, opines that political arithmetic can only be understood by men with political sagacity. Political rotation lacks political arithmetic as far as 21st century politicking is concerned. It is archaic, barbaric and an invitation to the stone-age. Political rotation as a formula was properly captured by Harold Pinter, when he adumbrated and asked "the earth is 5, 000 million years old. Who can afford to live in the past? If we consider rotation as the best methodology to adopt ahead of 2015, then the clamour for liberation and development is ruined. As part of moves towards getting it right in 2015, rotation should be considered insignificant. The term should be banned or ostracized from all political discuss and gathering. While, I am not disputing the fact that Delta central and South have produced Governors of Delta State except the North, the political question is what did the State and her inhabitants benefit if not underdevelopment, socialization of poverty, unemployment, youth restiveness, insecurity, corruption, looting and squandering of public funds, foreign companies running away from the State, etc. Most people argue that it is the right of Delta North to produce the next Governor- but I ask, is there any Right which entitles a group to barricade another group from expressing or enjoying their Right? Or is there any Right that is superior to another and thus, denies that right a space under the Sun? If such exist, it is fraudulent, illegal, ridiculous and preposterous. The 1999 Constitution as amended, which is the grundnorm that regulates our activities, didn't acknowledge rotation as a condiment in our democratic enterprise. The electoral Act also does not in anyway list rotation as a pre-condition for elections; therefore, it is like robbing Peter to pay Paul if we perceive rotation as a factor ahead of 2015. Delta State is in a state of lobotomy and needs a physician to de-lobotomize. This surgical process can't occur until we realize that when a patient is sick and taken to the hospital, emphasis is on wellness and not where the Doctor hails from. As Deltans, we should not magnify rotation to the peril of content and antecedents. For me, bringing rotation into the political discuss in Delta State is like defending the status quo even when the quo has lost its status. Rotation runs contrary to all known democratic norms and values in the word over. It kills democratic competition, fans the ember of ethnic politics, promotes blind loyalty, and welcomes perishable politicians who become politicians. Deltans who believe in rotation should remember that if rotation was allowed, the south-south geo-political bloc won't have gotten the Presidency. When people argue about this political rotation in Delta State, they are quick to say "the fact is that it is the turn of” but Henry Brooks Adams argues that "a times practical politics consists in ignoring facts". Turn by turn politics leads nowhere. Suffice, it is one of the reasons the State is backward and her economy weak. Deltans must look beyond the mechanic by the road side, we must also see if his tool box is equipped enough. I am not against Delta north producing the Next Governor. I am against rotation or turn by turn political arrangement. Their Right should not pose as a barrier to that of others. As 2015 approaches, emphasis should be on who exactly possesses the wherewithal to perform and not where the Governor will come from. Comr. Prince Afoke Okporua
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 13:48:29 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015