He narrated that Ekwueme, during a national conference under the late General Sani Abacha, proposed six zonal structures for Nigeria to ensure the rotation of the presidency. The intention was for Nigeria to achieve stable nationhood within 36 years, making the president’s origin irrelevant.
However, Okorie mentioned that this provision was dropped after it had been well debated, adopted, and recommended. He attributed the removal of the proposal to the Northern political elite, who opposed power rotation in that manner and advised Abacha to form another committee to review the conference’s recommendations. Consequently, the provision for the six geo-political zones was not included in the 1999 constitution.
His words: “The idea of the bill is not novel. It has been on the front burner for a long time. In the case of the late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, he fought gallantly at the national conference and included it in the new constitution Nigeria had under the late General Sani Abacha. It was Ekwueme who proposed six zonal structures for Nigeria for the rotation of the presidency.
“…However, the Northern political elite that wouldn’t want power rotation in that order went and advised Abacha to come up with another committee to review the recommendation of the conference. It was at that point that that brilliant suggestion was dropped. That is why till today the provision for the six geo-political zones is not contained in the 1999 constitution.”CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
