By Chukwudi Nwokoye
The election drum for who would succeed Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State has started beating louder and louder. Many have already started trying to rationalize marginalization of Anambra North in the scheme of things as far as Anambra Government House is concerned.
To be clear, I am from Anaocha Local Government Area which falls within the Anambra Central Senatorial Zone and my Zone has been well represented in the past two administrations. Besides, Iyom Uche Ekwunife stands tall and is poised to give any competitor a run for his money and has all it takes to win. Dr. Chris Ngige is also from Anambra Central Constituency and I would say that naturally, I would support him being since my area stands to gain should he win.
However, I support equity and equal representation in the Government House of all three Zones namely: Anambra Central, Anambra North and Anambra South.
Since the creation of the new Anambra State in 1991, it was only Anambra North that has never produced a governor of the state. Many that want to deny them their fair share argue that Anambra North had a fair share in the past. They point out to the fact that Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe was from Onitsha which is in Anambra North.
They also remind you that Chief Ukpabi Asika who was the Administrator of the East Central State back in 1967 was also from that area and held sway back in the days. Others in minority would tell you that Anambra North does not have capable hands to preside the state! Also they argue that Anambra State should not talk about equity or quota system, but should talk about merit irrespective of where a candidate comes from. Many said that marginalization issue should not arise and that a governor should not be seen from the prism of where a person comes from but from his capability and pedigree.
But I beg to differ. I believe in Zoning and giving every citizen an equal opportunity to aim to the highest office in the state. Since Nigeria returned to the democratic dispensation in 1999 until now, it has always been either Anambra South or Anambra Central Constituencies. I believe that it is wrong to marginalize a Zone in our state. In May 29th 1999, Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju who is from Uli in Anambra South became governor and ruled for four years.
Dr. Chris Ngige (though by default took over from Mbadinuju in May 2003 and ruled until he was judicially removed from office in March 2006). Dr. Ngige is from Alor which is in Anambra Central. Mr. Peter Obi who is from Agulu which is under Anambra Central was sworn-in in March 2006. However, he was unconstitutional impeached after only six months in office. His deputy, Dame Virgy Etiaba who is from Nnewi which is under Anambra South was sworn in. She presided over the state for nine months as Mr. Peter Obi was fighting to be re-instated. Finally, Mr. Obi won his impeachment case and was re-instated as governor and Dame Etiaba stepped aside for him. However, Governor Obi had to fight for interpretation of his tenure when another election was hurriedly conducted to illegally install Mr. Andy Uba who happened to be from Uga in Anambra South.
Mr. Uba ruled for about 17 days before the Supreme Court decided that Gov.
Obi’s tenure was still subsisting and that the election installing Andy Uba should not have been conducted to begin with. Governor Obi served out his first term and won re-election in February 2010.
In all, by the time Peter Obi completes his second term, he would have done eight years in office (minus nine months and seventeen days). This means that Dr. Ngige and Mr. Obi, both from Anambra Central had accumulated about eleven years between themselves. Also Mbadinuju, Etiaba and Uba, all from Anambra South would have completed close to five years among themselves. For the purpose of this article, the legality of Ngige and Uba’s time in office is not material since they both occupied the Governor’s Mansion.
This means that Anambra North has never produced anyone. Even in the old Anambra State, Military Governor Robert Akonobi was from Neni in Anaocha Local Government Area, which is in Anambra Central. Even if we could go back to when the then Colonel Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (from Nnewi which is within Anambra South) was the Military Governor of the Eastern Region, you will see that Anambra North has never been so lucky.
Even when Chief Jim Nwobodo was the governor of the old Anambra State, it was Engr Roy Umenyi from Uga who happened to be from Anambra South was the Deputy Governor. How about when Chief Christian Onoh was governor of the old Anambra State, was it not Chief Austin Ezenwa who was from Abagana, Anambra Central that was the Deputy Governor?
For starters, Anambra North Senatorial Zone comprises Anambra East, Anambra West, Anyamelum, Ogbaru, Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Oyi Local Government Areas. This Zone is reputed to be the ‘Food Baskets’ of the state. The area is very rich in food and basically feeds the state. Besides, Anambra State recently became one of the Oil Producing States in Nigeria thanks to the Aguleri-Umuleri section which is in Anambra North. In time to come, Anambra would be reaping benefits that accrue to all Oil Producing States. In simple terms, the Anambra North area is the proverbial goose that lay the golden egg.
The funny part of the whole argument against zoning in Anambra is that the same people speaking loudest against equity are the same people that are agitating for Igbo Presidency. They protest for giving Igbos opportunity to produce a Nigerian president arguing that it amounts to injustice and in fact inequity to exclude Igbos from occupying the highest office in Nigeria since Azikiwe and Genneral J.T.U. Aguiyi-Ironsi. Besides when the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan was coming out for president, this same group argued that it was unconscionable to deny Jonathan, who is a Niger Deltan, the opportunity of aspiring to the highest position after their area has contributed so much to the national wealth and with their land devastated by oil exploration.
So how can one explain this hypocrisy? Our people fight for zoning the presidency so that Igbos would be have an equal opportunity to occupy the highest office in the land. Our people are agitating for Igbo presidency in the center but same people are campaigning against a fellow Igbo from occupying the highest seat in Anambra state? They were making a case for the Niger Deltans who are the proverbial geese that lay the golden eggs, but they are ready to turn their backs on the Anambra North people who are Anambra’s ‘food basket’ and source of oil wealth. What is source for the goose is it not the same source for the gander? You cannot have it both ways. Either is it just and equitable for Igbos or Niger Deltans to be allowed to occupy the highest office in the land or it is not. If it is, then why can’t same argument favor the people of Anambra North.
The other lame argument peddled by some is that Anambra North Zone is backward! On one hand they said that Dr. Azikiwe and Ukpabi Asika held sway back in the days but on the other hand argue that Anambra North does not have people good enough to man the Anambra Governor’s Mansion. My question is: who would look at an average Onitsha man, Ogbaru man, Oyi or Anyamelum man in the eye and tell him that his area lacks people to lead the state? Who would look at an area that produced Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Professor Chike Obi, Dr. Chuba Wilberforce Okadigbo and their likes and say that they lack the pedigree to be president of Nigeria, let alone governor? How bad could those eminent personalities be? Let us say for the sake of argument that the above mentioned great men are already deceased, how about the likes Professor Ben Nwabueze, Professor Iloegbune, Professor Nwadialor and others too numerous to mention that come from Anambra North. Okay let us say that the latter group mentioned is in the twilight stage or their life and may not be politically viable, how about eminent personalities like Olisa Agbakoba, SAN (a highly reputable lawyer; Senator Joy Emordi, Senator Emma Anosike, Professor Ilochi Okafor, SAN (former Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK)?
We have many others from Anambra North that are either active in politics and have proved themselves in certain political offices they held or are currently occupying political offices. They include the current Secretary to the Anambra State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obazee from Ogbaru; the former Secretary to Anambra State, Mr.Paul Odenigbo from Anyamelum; the member representing Anambra State at the at the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Ezennia Nnamdi Ekweogwu from Onitsha, Dr. Alex Obiogbolu also from Onitsha and former Chairman of the local government Service Commission during the regime of former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, former Chairman of the Nigeria Labor Congress, NLC, Comrade Godwin Ibekwe; Mr. Mike Udah, who is currently the Press Secretary to the State Government; Hon. Victor Ogene who currently represents Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and a renown industrialist, Dr. Chike Obidigbo. They also have others like Prince Chinedu Idigo and former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy matters, Mr. Dubem Obaze.
Many would argue that many of the above listed politicians are ‘no name’ people, but they forgot that prior to the 1999 election, how many people have heard the name of Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju, who later became governor? Let us assume that Mbadinuju is not a good example judging from the below average rate his administration achieved, how about his successors? How many people have heard about Dr. Chris
Ngige’s name prior to the 2003 election? Even three months to the election, did many ever heard of Dr. Ngige? Did many give him a chance of making any difference? How about Gov. Peter Obi? Did many so-called pundits ever heard of Peter Obi prior to 2003 election? At the time it was “Chris who”, “Peter who?”when their names were first mentioned. Now they are a household names in Anambra State and even in Nigeria. How about Dame Etiaba? How many knew whom she was until Gov. Obi’s impeachment? She held her own as the first female Executive Governor of any state in Nigeria. We never know who our next Ngige or Obi would be until we throw away pettiness and allow them to showcase their skills.
I understand that at the end of the day, it is the people of Anambra State that would decide who among all the candidates that would governs them, but we shall not forget that in the interest of equity, justice and fairness, every section of the state show feel the sense of belonging. Anambra state belongs to all of us and not to a particular zone alone. Anambra North should be allowed to serve the state like every other zone in the state.
*Chukwudi Nwokoye, an attorney, writes from Maryland, USA. nwokoyeac@hotmail.com
Fiscal Commission, Ezennia Nnamdi
Ekweogwu from Onitsha, Dr. Alex
Obiogbolu also from Onitsha and former
chairman of the local government
service commission during the regime of
former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju,
former chairman of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, Comrade Godwin
Ibekwe, and an industrialist, Dr. Chike
Obidigbo.
Others are Mr. Patrick Obianwu from
Onitsha , Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, Mr.
Chima Anene, Prince Chinedu Idigo and
former commissioner for local
government and chieftaincy matters, Mr.
Dubem Obaze. Revenue Mobilization Allocation and
Fiscal Commission, Ezennia Nnamdi
Ekweogwu from Onitsha, Dr. Alex
Obiogbolu also from Onitsha and former
chairman of the local government
service commission during the regime of
former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju,
former chairman of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, Comrade Godwin
Ibekwe, and an industrialist, Dr. Chike
Obidigbo.
Others are Mr. Patrick Obianwu from
Onitsha , Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, Mr.
Chima Anene, Prince Chinedu Idigo and
former commissioner for local
government and chieftaincy matters, Mr.
Dubem Obaze.
Fiscal Commission, Ezennia Nnamdi
Ekweogwu from Onitsha, Dr. Alex
Obiogbolu also from Onitsha and former
chairman of the local government
service commission during the regime of
former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju,
former chairman of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, Comrade Godwin
Ibekwe, and an industrialist, Dr. Chike
Obidigbo.
Others are Mr. Patrick Obianwu from
Onitsha , Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, Mr.
Chima Anene, Prince Chinedu Idigo and
former commissioner for local
government and chieftaincy matters, Mr.
Dubem Obaze. Revenue Mobilization Allocation and
Fiscal Commission, Ezennia Nnamdi
Ekweogwu from Onitsha, Dr. Alex
Obiogbolu also from Onitsha and former
chairman of the local government
service commission during the regime of
former Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju,
former chairman of the Nigeria Labour
Congress, NLC, Comrade Godwin
Ibekwe, and an industrialist, Dr. Chike
Obidigbo.
Others are Mr. Patrick Obianwu from
Onitsha , Dr. Emmanuel Okafor, Mr.
Chima Anene, Prince Chinedu Idigo and
former commissioner for local
government and chieftaincy matters, Mr.
Dubem Obaze.