By Rayyanu Bala

There’s been a lot of noise lately about micro-zoning who belongs where, who should step aside for whom, and which town gets the “turn.” It sounds tidy on paper, but as with most political formulas, reality is far more concrete. And when you look closely, the very micro-zoning being promoted by some people may actually end up favoring Senator Wadada more than they expect.
Let’s start with the basic assumption being pushed: that Wadada is “from Keffi” and therefore, he should be excluded because Senator Abdullahi Adamu, a native of Keffi, has already held the office of governor.
But that assumption is shaky at best.
Yes, Wadada’s father settled in Keffi. Wadada’s roots are firmly in Nasarawa. His grandfather was Sarkin Kasuwan Nasarawa, a position that speaks volumes about both heritage and standing in the community. You don’t rewrite history or lineage because of later migration.
Why did late Danyaya, Wadada’s father, move to Keffi in the first place? Late Danyaya moved to Keffi not for convenience or political ambition, but as a result of protest. He opposed the imposition of an Emir of Nasarawa he did not believe in. That move was an act of principle, not a renunciation of identity. Settlement does not cancel ancestry.
This is where the micro-zoning argument begins to wobble. If the logic is that representation should reflect origin, history, and belonging, then Wadada clearly qualifies as a son of Nasarawa. If the logic is instead based on current residence alone, then many people across the state and Nigeria as a whole would suddenly find themselves politically homeless.
What’s ironic is that some of the loudest advocates of micro-zoning are using it selectively. They want it rigid enough to exclude certain people, but flexible enough to accommodate their preferred candidates. That’s not zoning; that’s sentiments dressed up as fairness.
The truth is simple: micro-zoning, if honestly applied, does not disqualify Wadada. In fact, it accommodates him. He is not an outsider. He is not a stranger. His family history, ancestral ties, and cultural roots are in Nasarawa. Keffi is where his father settled, not where his identity was born.
So those pushing the micro-zoning narrative should pause and reflect. If the goal is justice, balance, and true representation, then Wadada fits squarely within that framework. And if the goal is to exclude Wadada by technicality, then it’s worth asking whether that kind of politics really serves the people, or just a narrow interest.
In the end, zoning should unite, not distort history. And history, in the case of Wadada is very clear.