One of the problems facing any African president presiding over a multi-ethnic democracy - let's take Nigeria as a good example – in Nigeria it's possible that when Goodluck Jonathan gets up there on the podium, coughs into the microphone and says "My people", the Niger Delta Ijaws may feel honoured that he is speaking to them specifically, whilst some of the Muslims might even feel that when Mr President says , "My People" he only means the Christians and the kuffar
If it's an Igbo president of Nigeria and he says "My People", some of the Yoruba may feel that he could not possibly be talking about them.
When it's the FIFA World Cup Nigeria is one people or when attending to a national catastrophe - it could be an epidemic , it could be bribery and corruption, but when in addressing those ills the president of Nigeria says, "My people", everyone knows that they are included.
For the sake of regional equilibrium (so that the centre can hold) the rotation of the presidency in so far as it is a rational decision, a compromise of understanding, is a good idea and so is the common understanding that (may the best man win) that according to the nation's constitution the president of Nigeria can come from anywhere in Nigeria...
President Goodluck Jonathan usually says, "Fellow Nigerians" and talks about the "people of Nigeria"...( - all the people of Nigeria, not just some of the people of Nigeria, although he sometimes talks about some of the people of Nigeria who go by the name of Boko Haram
Peace
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