By Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu
Other States in the South-East have to the best of their abilities, addressed the issue of equity and social justice in the governance of their states. It is noteworthy to acknowledge that Enugu State has an honourable zoning arrangement for the office of the Governor.
Yes, the four governors that have presided over Enugu State so far, hail from three different zones. Chimaroke Nnamani is from Enugu East, Sullivan Chime and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi are from Enugu Central and Enugu North zones respectively, while Peter Mbah the current governor is from Enugu East, starting the cycle again.
The balance although not easy, cannot be wished away. Given the delicate nature of our democratic realities, and our winner takes it all mentality, any State that relegates zoning principles, does so at her own peril, as is evident with the ghetto level jankara politics displayed in Imo state.
Anambra State also applied the same equity principle in her gubernatorial decisions and elections. Former governors Chinwoke Mbadinuju and Virginia Etiaba hail from Anambra South, Peter Obi and Chris Ngige are from Anambra Central and Willie Obiano is from Anambra North. Just recently, owing to the fact that Anambra South through Mbadinuju was not able to complete its constitutionally allowed eight-years of two tenures, all major parties in the last elections mostly gave their tickets to candidates from Anambra South, in an election which produced former CBN governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo as Governor.
Similarly, Ebonyi State as we all know has a long standing zoning arrangement for the governorship position. Governor Sam Egwu from Ebonyi North zone governed the state from 1999 to 2007. He was succeeded by Martin Elechi from Ebonyi Central, who presided over the State from 2007 to 2015. Governor Dave Umahi, who took office in 2015, hails from Ebonyi South, and as we speak, the newly elected Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru is from Ebonyi North, starting the cycle all over again.
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Finally, not even Abia State is left out in the zonal/equity arrangement for the office of the Governor. Between 1999 and 2007, former governor Orji Uzor Kalu from Abia North governed the State. He was succeeded by Theodore Orji from Abia Central from 2007 to 2015, to accomplish the 8 years for his zone. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who hails from Abia South, was in the seat from 2015 for 8 years. In 2023, all political pointers agreed, that despite attempts by desperate politicians to thwart the zoning agreement, power shifted to Abia North. The current governor Alex Otti is originally from Arochukwu, Abia North. His family settled in Ngwa land, and the zoning cycle has continued.
It is pertinent to understand how equity, justice and fairness has firmly and democratically taken root in all the States of the South-East except in Imo state, where despite the shameful long standing wide gap of unjust, unfair and inequitable imbalance, self-serving sycophant politicians have succeeded in decietfully distracting and prodding on our current governor Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, and have urged him to attempt to further marginalise and dominate other zones, by actually running for a second tenure, with the intent to extend the Orlu zone tenure on the saddle so far to 24 years, whereas Owerri senatorial zone has only governed for 7 months since the advent of the 4th republic in 1999. Not even one full term of 4 years like Okigwe zone.
It is an unfortunate and shameful testament to the destructive activities of a loutish clique of greedy, self-serving and sycophantic politicians, devoid of any integrity or honour, who do not have the interest of our state, its image and perception at heart.
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In Imo state, it is noteworthy to point out that the Owerri senatorial zone (Imo East) is the only senatorial zone in the entire southern Nigeria that has not participated in the governorship of its state for up to one full term, since the advent of the 4th republic in 1999. This state of affairs should not only be discouraged, but also condemned and stoutly resisted by the other marginalised zone Okigwe, if we are to continue to cohabitate peacefully as a state.
Recently, a dishonest, pecuniary induced and deceitful so-called "charter of equity" was hurriedly proposed by proponents of an extension for the incumbent governor despite the existing inequity, unfairness and injustice. The charter proposes for power to shift to Owerri after 2027, but the question is, was this an APC agreement or an all binding Imo state agreement? Are Okigwe zone in agreement with this proposition?
Inasmuch as zoning has its disadvantages, Imo state and it's politicians as is evident, are obviously not honourable and mature enough to operate without guiding principles like zoning to maintain order.
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In a saner clime, we should be talking about competence, capacity and qualifications and not zoning, but obviously not in a state as politically immature as Imo state.
The only thing that can sustain the unity of Imo State, is when people of honour, integrity and conscience across the three zones of the state, and the multi-partisan political and apolitical populace, come together to agree to entrench a zoning formula, by supporting either Owerri zone (Imo East) or Okigwe zone (Imo north) to govern the State in 2024. This move will correct the political imbalance and uphold the discarded doctrine of equity in the State.
By "Duruebube Uzii na Abosi"
Chimazuru Nnadi-Oforgu is renowned social critic and media guru.
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