For over two decades, Nigeria’s political space has operated under the shadow of zoning – an arrangement often presented as a mechanism for national inclusion and equity. But the truth is this: zoning was never a noble idea. From the outset, it was a compromise brokered by political elites to maintain a fragile balance of power, not a sincere commitment to justice, unity, or national progress.

It was never about selecting the best leaders. It was never about empowering the people. Instead, it focused on rotating power, not responsibility, and that distortion has deeply shaped our democracy. Over time, zoning has evolved into a system that produces leadership by default, not by merit. It has shielded mediocrity, justified underperformance, and created a dangerous expectation that power must shift, regardless of competence.

Today, the consequences are undeniable. Nigeria continues to battle deepening insecurity, economic instability, systemic corruption, and institutional decay not because we lack talent, but because we continue to sacrifice competence on the altar of rotation.

It is time we rise above the mediocrity of zoning.

A country of over 200 million people cannot afford to be led by a system that places geography above capacity. We need leaders who inspire, who deliver, and who understand the weight of responsibility, not those who simply arrive at the table because it is “their turn.” Leadership must be earned through vision, integrity, and the conviction to do what’s right — not ethnicity, region, or religion.

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Zoning has outlived its usefulness, if it ever had one. Let us now commit to a future where leadership is no longer zoned but earned. Let Nigeria move from rotation to restoration. Let merit rise. Let Nigeria breathe.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐮𝐛𝐭𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐎𝐍𝐋𝐘 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭.

-Francis Onyema, 2027 Presidential Aspirant.