As political activities hot up ahead of the 2015 general elections the game play is becoming interesting day in, day out in Plateau State, with scheming and manipulations for political gains.
One seat that is expected to be interestingly and hotly contested for is that of the governor.
The reason is quite very obvious going by the issues in contention over the seat.
The Eagle Online reports that by 2015 when the tenure of Governor Jonah Jang will be over, all the three senatorial zones of the state would have at one time or the other produced a governor.
But the issue now is: which of the zones is to produce the next governor?
There have been claims and counter-claims been made and arguments have been put across by different sections as to whom or which zone should govern the state come 2015.
Though they have the potential of overheating the hitherto already rotten political situation in the state, some of the positions put forward are justifiable while some simply lack justification as far as public interest is concerned.
For those in favour of the Southern zone, their argument is that since the unwritten zoning arrangement started from there, it is only right that the circle starts from the beginning.
That sounds quite logical except that politics in Nigeria seems to defy logic.
Another point raised by this group is that it is the only zone that never served two terms in office.
The tenure of Solomon Lar was terminated at the beginning of his second term by the General Muhammadu Buhari coup of December 1983, while that of Fidelis Tapgun was halted by the late General Sani Abacha junta in November 1993, barely midway into the regime’s first term.
But one other thing being claimed is that during the said tenures of Lar and Tagun, Langtang and Shendam were never regarded as the southern zone, pointing the fact that it was a larger Plateau State, with Nasarawa State inclusive, as the southern zone.
However, those against this position are claiming that since Langtang and Shendam, now the southern zone of Plateau State, produced the governor twice, there is the need for the rotation to begin from the Northern zone.
But pundits have argued that such calculation will be tantamount to the spirit of fairness, justice and equity.
Arguing that Plateau State was a larger one then and that as far as democracy returned in 1999, the zoning arrangement should start from there.
And that if such argument is acceptable, then the southern zone needs the express ticket because Joshua Dariye, a Bokkos man, had his fair share for the Central zone and Jonah Jang, a Du Berom man, will be rounding off his tenure next year uninterrupted.
Going by this fact, however, the southern zone stands the privilege of occupying the Plateau State Government House next year.
Nevertheless, considering the seasoned political heavyweights as well the array of contenders from the zone, the Plateau Southern Senatorial District is definitely not a pushover in the race.
As pointed out earlier, the central senatorial zone had its turn during the tenure of Dariye from 1999 to 2007.
This was the first time any democratically elected government had lived its full life not just in Plateau State, but in Nigeria.
However, one problem with Plateau State is that even if the reality is there, nobody would want to follow it based on the fact that the central zone, where Dariye had finished his tenure, also have other tribes and different local governments like Mangu and Pankshin, being the foremost local government areas which make up a large percentage of the zone have never produced a governor in a democracy.
One other thing going for the central zone is its flexibility as regards building alliances in pursuance of their common good.
The zone also boasts of top politicians who have served at the highest level in both the public and private sectors and prides itself with having the best in terms of human and material resources, which put it in good stead in the race.
Plateau north senatorial zone is presently enjoying its turn at the helm of affairs in the state, which is expected to end by 2015.
The zone, however, is of the opinion that it wants to have another turn to kick-start the rotation once again, a view not shared by all sections within the zone.
But with the power of incumbency remaining an integral part of Nigerian politics, this is no wishful thinking.
Population is a major feature of the zone although attention must be paid to demographics as opposed to the rather erroneous belief that it is all about a homogenous population.
Supporters of a northern Plateau candidate believe the zone has all it takes to produce the next governor despite the outcry that their action is contrary to the principle of fair-play and highly undemocratic.
Today, the one issue about the Plateau State governorship election that is threatening the socio-ethnic atmosphere is the quest by other Beroms to succeed the incumbent, himself a Berom.
This, to other ethnic groups, both from within and outside the zone as well as non-Plateau State residents, smacks of ethnocentrism.
Incumbency will definitely play a role, albeit a costly one, as it will only serve to test the will of the Plateau State people.
Even during the Second Republic when the zone had political heavy weights of Berom extraction like Dalo D.B. Zang, Senator John Wash Pam, Dr. Alex Fom, Ngo Hannatu Chollom, Ngo Sarah Dokotiri and the NPP to which they belonged was the ruling party in the state, such a stand was never assumed.
Rather, the unity and progress of the state was their primary concern.
What might however come to be the Achilles heel of this ambition is the likelihood that the contest is going to be between the Berom and the rest of Plateau State, a contest which will portend a rather ominous future for the Berom nation as it will further alienate them from other ethnic groups in the state.
Some questions that need to be asked are: How can one group seek to hold office for a period of 16 years and hope to come out of it with no scars, what will then be their political future or that of future generations? Do they believe others can trust them again?
What is important is that there should be an understanding of the need for unity in the state, the lack of which has left the state vulnerable and somehow helpless in the face a number of unfortunate happenings.
To do so will not only bring peace and development to the state, but will also bring about the establishment of long-standing mutually beneficial relationships across the state.
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