THE FALLACY OF ZONING IN ENUGU STATE AND THE IMAGINATIONS OF INTEREST

THE FALLACY OF ZONING IN ENUGU STATE AND THE IMAGINATIONS OF INTEREST

The issue of zoning of Gubernatorial Candidacy in Enugu State has generated some heated arguments, but the TRUTH is that Enugu, as a state, has never zoned Gubernatorial Candidacy.

Let's start from 1999. When democracy returned to Nigeria in 1999, Jim Nwobodo and some other people from Enugu East took the position and gave it to their Kingsman. It is a well known truth that if equity, justice, and fair play were to be followed, Chimaroke wouldn't have emerged because that is the same zone with Jim Nwobodo, and even if otherwise, it would have gone to Nike and Isi-Uzo axis not Nkanu. It was the dictates of the power connectors at that point in time that gave it to Chimaroke. It was not zoning; neither were justice and equity considered.

Fast forward to 2007. It was all in the air that Nsukka Senatorial Zone will produce the next Governor. In fact, the issue was no longer whether it will go to Nsukka but who will it be. Names were mentioned. The popular amongst them was Dr. Dan Shere. However, Chimaroke decided to give to Sullivan. There was no rotation plan that positioned Enugu West as the next after Enugu East. The power brokers gave it to Sullivan, it was never a rotation plan, agreed by all; neither did justice and equity considered. If all were to follow justice, Nsukka zone would have been considered because they have the highest population of registered voters. Traditionally, Nsukka zone is senior to other zones, but that was never considered.

So, the next time you shout equity and justice, try as much as possible to show us your hands because "he who comes to equity must come with clean hands". 

Fast forward to 2015. At this point, your guess is as good as mine. It was remaining only one zone to assume the office, and that zone was Nsukka Zone. So, when Sullivan said, "Anyi ejebe Nsukka", he was merely echoing and hipping the obvious. He could have, off course, attempted going back to Enugu East, given that Governors of Enugu State are seen as emperors. However, what many people forgot is that many Big politicians like His Excellency, Professor Ike Ekweremadu, and Chimaroke themselves have already positioned candidates from Nsukka zone. So, it would have been a political impossibility for Sullivan to go otherwise.

So, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi did not become Governor because of any agreed upon rotation plan that positioned Nsukka zone as the next in the rotation roaster, but Ugwuanyi became a child of necessity, especially to ensure that every zone tastes the Lion Seat and maintain a somewhat political peace in Enugu State.

NOW THAT EACH ZONE HAS TASTED THE LIONS SEAT?

In most Nsukka cultures, when some becomes the last to take from a shared resources for reasons of age or other circumstances beyond the individual's control, the person is allowed to take again before others. It is used as a form of control to ensure that the last does not literally become the least. If we bring it to apply here, Nsukka zone should produce the next Governor. They waited for 16 years even when they have the largest number of registered Voters in the State. However, because we are talking of political power, with all the attendant wagons following it like the train egine, Nsukka may not be allowed to produce the next Governor. 

WHICH ZONE SHOULD THEN, IF NSUKKA DOESN'T.

The truth is that any of the other two zones can produce the next Governor of Enugu State. Except anyone shows or gives the people of Enugu State evidence of the rotation plan, agreed by all, that places each zone at a rotation point. Any argument in favour of any of the Zones is merely sentimental, and is likely to be burdened by emotions and other affect invoking treads of ideas. To be honest and in plain terms, there is no rotation agreement in Enugu State that says this zones will go before or after so so zone. Each zone has now tasted the office not by any zoning arrangement, but by circumstances that were defined by the power blocks at every particular time. If otherwise, let us have it.

WHO DETERMINED (OR SHOULD DETERMINE) THE NEXT ZONE THAT (TO) PRODUCED (PRODUCE) THE GOVERNOR

In the past, as I earlier noted, the Governors determined. However, the truth is, it shouldn't be any longer. We cannot progress when one person sits in his living room or hotel room, with friends, and just decide who rules millions of people. We may not be able to stop such attempts, but the right thing is that whoever is thrown up through such clandestine moves must now be interrogated by the people. More importantly, we should encourage people to come out on their own volitions. Whether by personal decision or by a group of selfish cohorts, it is high time gubernatorial candidates in Enugu State got the scrutiny of the people. The idea that all our wishes and wills must be placed in the hands of one man because he is the Governor is no longer acceptable and, in fact, tenable. 

THE TRICK THEY USE ON US.

Because they know that a thorough scrutiny of the so called anointed candidates may not produce positive feedback, they tell us to wait for the Governor; that when the times comes, he will make his choice known to all, and we should follow sheepishly. So we wait, all will wait, and Candidates keep lobbying the Governor, untill he calls people to a meeting and says "Behold your next Governor". At that time, capable candidates, who were just following sheepishly, can no longer consult. It has become too late!!!! The anointed candidate is railroaded into the Lion Building. Unfortunately for all of us, his loyalty is to whatever machinery that helped convince the Governor to anoint him. This circle must be broken in Jesus Name.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

Today, we have a situation that is about to brake that evil circle against the people. Unfortunately, some state government appointees believe that their paymaster, like others did in the past, should be allowed to anoint a candidate. They have no other argument except that. For some others, who are from Nsukka, they feel it is insulting to their own for anyone to preach for a free field, when such free field was not advocated under Chimaroke or Sullivan. They quickly forgot that a free filed would have given Nsukka an upper hand over Enugu East in 1999 because Nsukka had all it takes to come first, but unfortunately the zone came last. Very tragic, but will the people of the zone learn? Unfortunately, all these arguments are not rooted on any sound democratic principle but on old and ill-fashioned oligarchical and autocratic governments. 

THE AUDACITY OF IKE EKWEREMADU

Without fear of contradictions, I salute the courage of Senator Ike Ekweremadu for starting consultation on whether to become the Governor of Enugu State without waiting to be anointed. Unfortunately, he is the only one doing the consultation with the downtrodden, with market women, with party stalwarts, with all and sundry in the sate now. Isn't it how politics is played in the countries where all of us want to run to, such as America, Britain, Germany, etc. I have not heard him say that another person should not come out. Let any one who wants to be Governor of Enugu State comeout and start consulting with the people - the ultimate decider. Wait for the anointing, and you will meet your Waterloo. Times have changed and is changing radically. All, including the educated, traders, farmers, and students, now want a change and a shift of paradigm in Enugu State. 

CONCLUSION

MY PEOPLE OF ENUGU STATE, FOR ONCE, LET US HAVE THE PEOPLE'S GOVERNOR NOT THE GOVERNOR'S GOVERNOR

I REMAIN YOUR BELOVED DR. Aaron Adibe Agbo 

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