Why power rotation is a must for Nigeria – Ex Power Minister

By Musa Baba Adamu

Former minister of Power during President Goodluck Jonathan administration, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has said that rotation of power is crucial for a country like Nigeria with a huge population and diverse ethnic groups that remain perpetually suspicious of each other.
He said unfortunately, Nigeria is yet to produce leadership at the top that is totally detribalised and committed to building a virile nation with all the components treated as equals.
According to him, the past several years have seen Nigeria drift apart more than in any other part of our history, adding that so many things had been put in place earlier to ensure national spread in appointments, amenities, education and infrastructure.
“Sadly, though, these principles have not been respected, especially in the last several years. The entire Federal Character principle has been abandoned while sectarianism, ethnicity and religious bigotry have been exalted to a place of prominence.
“It is therefore crucial to rotate political power so as to give each federating unit a sense of belonging. Equity, Justice, and Fairness are sinequanon to peace and national unity. Nigeria is currently on
the brinks of collapse, with many groups feeling aggrieved, neglected and marginalized.
“Rotation of power will certainly go a long way in calming frayed nerves and restoring a semblance of nationhood”, Prof. Nebo said in a statement he issued to journàlists in Abuja.
He said in the face of the current unprecedented security challenges, the federal government needs to engage and involve citizens at the grassroots to stem the tide and prevent Nigeria from becoming another Somalia.
“The level of perceived anarchy is terribly worrisome and frightening. We have become a nation at war with itself and we must tackle the situation with everything we have. This has indeed become an
existential challenge for Nigeria. Failure to solve this problem would most probably destroy Nigeria”, he said.