By Nandi Bette
When the then presidential Candidate of APC, Bola Ahmed Tinubu chose Kashim Shettima as running mate, tongues wagged about a Muslim/Muslim ticket.
There was such furry that some APC members left the party in protest, even as they were to shamelessly return and even accept offices, perhaps to maintain the stomach infrastructure.
Over the years the Federal Character and Quota System things have been seen to become mere simplistic and synthetic policies put in place to try to foster national unity.
Truth is, in this country, ethnicity, regionalism and religion have remained the undercurrent forces guiding governance.
Complaints of Marginalization from the various regions often go silent as soon as someone from a particular ethnic nationality secures occupancy of Aso Rock Villa.
Appointments made to political offices during the present administration and the one before it are clear illustrations of the ethno-religious factor in Nigerian politics.
If this country must move forward, we should stop deceiving ourselves. There are two options: To either ensure that the letters of Federal Character and Quota System as supported by the Nigerian Constitution are respected and implemented OR they are expunged totally from our national life.
After all, it’s doubtful if our national football team will be the high flying team it is today, if selection into the Super Eagles was based on the so-called Federal Character or Quota System!