Earlyface

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The lawmaker representing Makurdi/Guma federal constituency in the National Assembly, Mr. Emmanuel Jime, yesterday kicked against the zoning of political offices at all levels.
According to him, zoning constitutes a major impediment to electoral contestation in the country.
Jime, who spoke in an interaction with newsmen said: “The truth is that I have never hidden my dislike for zoning in our politics as a people.
“I truly believe that zoning actually conscript the political space and it makes political contestation uninteresting and encumbered, which is not good for the growth of democratic norms and practices.
“I think that our problem in Nigeria is not the issue of where a leader comes from, but that of good leadership.
“The truth is that if a leader is doing well, he will be appreciated and supported by all,  irrespective of his background or section of the country or state where he comes from.
“That is why we must jettison the thought of  ‘the person in power must be my person or brother’ before we can talk of development for my people, that kills the spirit of unity and oneness in any society.
“Hence I keep talking of a paradigm shift from the mentality of tribe and religion; let’s begin to talk about how to improve the lives of our people and also dwell on the cores issues that will impact positively on the lives of our people that is what governance is all about.”
Jime, who is chairman of House Committee on Federal Capital Territory, FCT, however, said: “Though I must say that zoning has its merits, especially in a society of disgruntlement and alienation, zoning comes handy, that is the more reason we must start propagating those values that unite us as a people.”