Not Again: Nigeria’s Endless North-South Power Shuffle

By Olayemi Olawuni

After much pressure, both local and international, following the annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election won by MKO Abiola, IBB, a northerner who had been the head of government since 1985 after taking over from another northerner, Buhari, who himself took over from another kinsman, Shagari, in 1983, abandoned and ran away from governance and in November 1993 handed over to Shonekan, a southerner who was designated as the head of the Interim National Government of Nigeria. First and only of its kind ever.

But barely three months later, Sanni Abacha threw Shonekan out of power and became another northerner in power. He was there till the winner of the June 12, 1993 election, a southerner, died, allegedly killed in prison. Barely a month after, the man also died, the northerner head of government was taken away. Some said it was divine.

After him, another northerner was installed, his name, Abubakar. It was believed he did well. He took governance back to alagbada. The man was elected by the people. What could not materialize in 1993 came in 1999. As fate would have it, it was Obasanjo, the same man who first did the same handing over in 1983. But he was believed to be installed by no other than northerners.

After his turn, he also passed the baton on to Yar’Adua from the north. Then came the drama. Yar’Adua couldn’t complete his term before he was called home above. It then constitutionally came the turn of Jonathan but the “rulers” didn’t want it to slip away. Eventually, Jonathan got it and stayed for the term.

But for Jonathan to come again after his first term became an ambush laid. The northerner at the helm of his vehicle was even alleged to be working against him. What a world.

Then came Bubu, another man from the north, a one-time ruler. He had it smooth, he had it all.

Now, Bola, a southerner, is around, and a wild wind from the north is gathering again? Not again. Just a bit above the half time of the first term. Not again.

A people that termed themselves “born to rule” and are tactically doing so cannot always take us for a ride. We are all born to rule. A smarter Bola is around and a set of detribalised, smart, and knowledgeable people are solidly behind him.

Not again.

Olayemi Olawuni writes from Ile Ife