Zoning in Enugu is non-existent:An Open Truth that Ndi Enugu Should be cognizance of .

Zoning in Enugu is non-existent.

I personally do not have anything against anyone or zone in Enugu State. I love Enugu East and Enugu North Senatorial Zones as much as I love Enugu West Senatorial Zone. 

Let me please challenge anyone fanning the ember of zoning to present before ndi Enugu any written agreement or documented video evidence on Zoning of Governorship Candidates in Enugu State. 

I do not know how familiar many of us are with the political activities preceding the 1999 election. In that election, former Governor Jim Nwobodo from Enugu East Senatorial Zone campaigned and supported a particular candidate (Name withheld) from Enugu West Senatorial Zone up until the day of the PDP Governorship Election Primaries at Presidential Hotel, Enugu.

In that same transition to civil rule, former Governor Okwesirieze Nwodo from Enugu North supported another Candidate (Name withheld) from Enugu West Senatorial Zone, while Hon. Barr. Chief Ugochukwu Agballah from Enugu West supported another candidate (Name withheld) from Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

In the end, the Candidate from Enugu East Senatorial Zone emerged the winner of the Primaries and that was how Governor Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East Senatorial Zone emerged as the PDP Candidate during the 1999 Governorship election. 

My question at this juncture was who zoned what to where in 1999?

Prior to the 1999 democratic dispensation, Enugu East Senatorial Zone had produced the duo of His Excellencies Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo and Chief C. C. Onoh of blessed memory as democratically elected Governors.

Now fast forward to 2003, we had the likes of Chief Fidel Anyaogu (the then Chief Whip of the Federal House of Representatives) from Enugu North Senatorial Zone as a Governorship Candidate, we had the likes of Hon. Chief Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah from Enugu West Senatorial Zone as a Governorship Candidate, plus lots of others. These great Patriots from other Senatorial Zones in Enugu State challenged the incumbent Nnamani from Enugu East Senatorial Zone in that election.

In 2007, we had many gubernatorial candidates across the 3 Senatorial Zones, naming the popular ones in the persons of Barr. Sullivan Chime (Enugu West), Hon. Barr. Ugochukwu Agballah (Enugu West), Chief Okey Ezea (Ideke) (Enugu North), Chief Oscar Egwuonwu (Enugu West), Chief Dubem Onyia (Enugu West), Chief Peter Okonkwo (Ohamadike) Enugu North, etc.

Again, the same scenario played out in 2011 when we had the following as Governorship Candidates: His Excellency Barr. Sullivan Chime (Enugu West), Chief Okey Ezea (Enugu North), Chief Val Nnaedozie (Enugu West), Chief Dan Shere (Enugu North), Chief Osita Okechukwu, Jonathan Nweke, Obinna Obiegwu et al.

Coming closer to 2015 when His Excellency Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu North) was elected, we had the likes of Chief Okey Ezea (Enugu North, Chief Kanayo Oguakwa (Enugu West), and Chukwuma Ugwu et al challenge Governor Ugwuanyi in that election.

Finally, in 2019, we had the likes of Chief Anyaogu Eze (Enugu North), Chief Ekene Uzodimma (Enugu West) and Emmanuel Nwankpa et al challenged incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2019.

Note the above named individuals were Governorship Candidates and NOT Aspirants. We had several gubernatorial aspirants cut across all the 3 senatorial zones in every election cycle since 1999.

I have painstakingly given the above narratives to support my understanding that folks across the 3 senatorial zones in Enugu State vie for elections in every election cycle since 1999. No Zone in Enugu State has enjoyed EXCLUSIVITY of Gubernatorial Contests and 2023 is not going to be an exception. Folks will run!

I am personally convinced that our Governor widely known for his disposition to peace would ensure that everyone interested in the 2023 governorship race would get a fair/level playing ground. He is the leader of the State and a father to all.

For me, zoning promotes exclusion, advances turn by turn style of politics, eliminates real-time election of the best candidate across the State. 

I strongly believe that L❤️VE must not stop at the borders. Enugu should be one. Our politics henceforth must promote inclusion and diversity, excellence and capacity, as we together commit to rising above this zoning and all those mundane political ideologies forestalling our collective growth and development as a people.

I love everyone equally and I honestly do not care where a good Governor comes from come 2023.

Let’s commit to zoning our subsequent elections to excellence, competence, capacity and capability (ECCC).

Let’s be the best.

Engr. (Dr.) Donald Ike Igwegbu CEng., CMarEng., CMC., FIMC., FIMarEST

Enugu State Indigene.

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