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ENUGU 2023: BETWEEN ZONING POLITICS AND ETHNIC REVISIONISM By Prof. Oguejiofo T.Ujam: A Rejoinder

Published

6 years ago

October 6, 2020

By Ifeanyi Ogenyi, Esq.

Some years back, I read a story of a man called Edward Mordrake, “The Man with two faces”, from an article. The article presented Mordrake as a young, intelligent, and good looking English nobleman. But apart from Murdrake’s normally handsome face, he possessed another terrifying face on the back of his head. The storylines had it that whenever Mordrake cried, the second face would “smile” and “sneer”.

It is quite alarming that a good number of Pen-Pushers are intellectually bankrupt. But I never knew that the intellectual and character bankruptcy have got to a catastrophic level until I read “Prof” Ujam ‘s article titled “Enugu 2023: Between Zoning Politics and Ethnic Revisionism” published on the 4/10/2020 in Sun news online and what came to my mind was the picture of a double-faced man- Mr. Murdrake. Mr.Ujam’s style gives no credit to the Intellectual community and even his sponsors.

Reading through the length and breadth of the article, the writer was just hobbling and nobbling without driving home any valid point nor making any sensible conclusion.

It was a jaundiced analysis, so disjointed such that I considered the writer as a double-tongued man who has a slanted sense of justice and equity. It became clear from the article that some persons are endowed with extra mouth and tongue to talk to those who could not hear them from the front. It is this anomaly against humanity for one person to have two mouths and tongues that have compelled me to respond to Mr. Ujam’s skewed analysis and his slanted sense of justice, particularly his illusive remarks about Isi-Uzo People.

Speaking from both sides of the mouth simply means making two contradictory statements at the same time or one after the other. A person who does such is dishonest and should not be taken seriously. Mr. Ujam’s article was clearly designed to confuse and manipulate the gullible public; and also to insult the sensibility of Isi-Uzo people and Enugu people in general. A mission that was dead on arrival.

According to Ujam, there is recent attempts by some overzealous politician within PDP to redefine the zoning or power rotation arrangement in the State. Whereas, the said Ujam was the one who clearly stated that “It is settled that by 2023, the incumbent, His Excellency Rt.Hon.Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu North or Nuskka cultural zone would be rounding off his second tenure in office as governor. And going by the zoning and power rotation which has been observed religiously in the state since 1999, 2023 would be another opportunity for Enugu East or Nkanu cultural to produce the next governor”.

With the above-highlighted assertions by the acclaimed Professor, the question is: who is attempting to redefine the zoning or power rotation arrangement in the state? Is there anything like Nsukka cultural zone or Nkanu cultural zone in the zoning arrangement in Enugu since 1999 which he postulates? How could Mr.Ujam insinuate and still complain that some elements, particularly in PDP are talking about rotation based on clans and cultural groupings when he is the Chief protagonist of Nsukka and Nkanu cultural zone; and Isi-Uzo people of Nsukka cultural zone and Nkanu zone. Is Ujam not the one being clannish and suffering from ethnic/cultural chauvinism? A man who considered only Nkanu East within his so-called” core Nkanu area” and other bother towns as the only people who are entitled to occupy the governorship seat. It is indeed very unfortunate that a person who supposed to know knows not.

In another breath, Mr. Ujam stated that Governor Ugwuanyi’s allies and stakeholders in Enugu East have continued to appreciate the governor for insisting on fairness and equity by ensuring that former governor Chimaroke Nnamani got the second berth in the senate after being rigged out in 2015.

But he somersaulted and cynically insinuated that any attempt to micro-zone to Isi-Uzo within Enugu East Senatorial District the governorship seat which of course is a figment of his own imagination (though right if done that way) as an invitation to the climate of confusion and mutual suspicion that zoning in Enugu State is sought to obliterate. Which confusion is Mr. Ujam talking about? Mr. Ujam should be reminded that there is an extent to which he can exercise his right to freedom of expression. He should not take it as a license to insult and threaten the state.

For Mr.Ujam, the Governor and stakeholders of Enugu East senatorial District’s insistence that Sen.Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani should have a second bite at the cherry in the senate was in the best interest of justice, equity, and fairness but micro-zoning of the governorship seat to Isi-Uzo in Enugu East Senatorial District by 2023 to produce the next governor is an invitation to anarchy. What an infertile proposition? Speaking from both sides of the mouth is a character flaw and those that do that lack the virtue of rationality as it is morally and also legally untenable for a man to approbate and reprobate.

Mr.Ujam’s position clearly portrayed him as a man devoid of any sense of justice. If zoning was put in place to ensure justice, equity, and fairness as admitted by Mr. Ujam, how could micro-zoning the governorship seat coming to Enugu East Senatorial District to Isi-Uzo, the most unfairly treated local government council in the zone since 1999 till date in power-sharing be seen by any person with an iota of sense of justice as a bad idea?

It is not in dispute as it is true that all the five local government council in Enugu East Senatorial District namely: Nkanu East, Nkanu West, Enugu East, Enugu South, and Enugu North L.G.As have occupied one or more positions meant for the zone and represented the zone in various elective positions and capacities at one time or the other. Enugu South L.G.A represented the zone in the Senate between 1999-2007, and the past, someone from the L.G.A served as a governor.

Nkanu East on its part has served as deputy governor from 2007-2015 and at the same time, Prof. Barth Nnaji served as a federal minister under President Jonathan. Enugu North which comprises some parts of Ngwo has produced a federal Minister in the person of Chief Dubem Onyia and also produce a governor in the past. Enugu East L.G.A has equally represented the zone in the seat for 8 solid years and produced VC of ESUT, While, Nkanu West produced governor in 1999-2007, Senator in 2015 and currently the serving Senator. Isi-Uzo people have not occupied any of such positions mentioned above.

The question begging for an answer: Is Isi-Uzo not part of the Enugu East Senatorial District? How did Mr.Ujam arrive at his Isi-Uzo people of Nsukka cultural zone and Nkanu zone? Isi –Uzo is an integral part of the Enugu East Senatorial District and it should be given a fair share in the power-sharing in the zone. They should not be schemed out of the power equation as suggested by Mr.Ujam

Justice is not blind. Equity delights to do justice and not by halves. Is Isi-Uzo not part of the Enugu East Senatorial District?

I was deeply worried by the illusive remarks made about Isi-Uzo by Mr.Ujam, on the surface, it looks harmless but the underpinning aim was to schmooze the gullible public with moral cliché to deny Isi-Uzo what patience, goodwill, and longtime support for others are about to earn them. But falsehood cannot conquer the truth. No matter how lies are deodorized and garnished, the truth will eventually triumph.

There is no doubt that it will be in the overall best interest of justice, equity, and fairness to allow Isi-Uzo to produce the next governor of the state come 2023 when it will be the turn of Enugu East Senatorial zone. So even the governorship seat is micro-zoned to Isi-Uzo as insinuated by Mr.Ujam, it is in order.

So, Mr. Ujam and his sponsors should stop distracting Enugu people because they know where the road leads to by 2023 and that is Isi-Uzo by God’s grace

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Strategic Partnerships, Diaspora Investment and Improved Workforce Critical to Industrialization-DG RMRDC

Published

19 hours ago

November 12, 2026

The Gleamer

By: Stella Azi and Adaora Adibe

The Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, has called for a strategic shift from the exportation of raw commodities to domestic processing, manufacturing and value addition, declaring that Nigeria possesses enormous untapped raw material resources capable of driving industrialisation, creating jobs and strengthening the country’s economic competitiveness.

Prof. Ike-Muonso made this submission in a lecture titled Unlocking Nigeria’s Raw Material Value Chain for Industrialization, Manufacturing and Competitiveness, where he presented an extensive assessment of Nigeria’s resource endowments, industrial challenges and emerging investment opportunities across agricultural commodities, solid minerals and waste-based raw materials.

The lecture highlighted a combined US$2.65 trillion global market opportunity across 30 major raw material value chains, comprising 12 agricultural value chains valued at US$932 billion, 11 mineral value chains worth US$1.352 trillion and seven circular-economy value chains estimated at US$366 billion.

According to the RMRDC Boss, Nigeria must move beyond the traditional approach of extracting and exporting raw materials to building competitive domestic industries that transform these resources into intermediate products, industrial inputs and finished goods for local consumption and international markets.

He observed that the country’s manufacturing sector has struggled to sustain its 2014 peak, with its contribution to real Gross Domestic Product declining from 9.64 per cent in 2014 to 8.05 per cent in 2025, representing a 16.5 per cent decline. He also drew attention to the increasing cost of raw material imports, which rose to US$20.5 billion in 2025, approximately six times the 2020 level.

He explained that the growing dependence on imported industrial inputs exposes Nigerian manufacturers to foreign exchange volatility, increases production costs and weakens the competitiveness of locally manufactured products.

Prof. ke-Muonso stressed that the solution lies in developing domestic raw material value chains through deliberate investment in processing facilities, research and development, technology, infrastructure and stronger linkages between producers, processors and manufacturers.

He identified agriculture, solid minerals and industrial waste as three major resource platforms for Nigeria’s industrial transformation, stating the country’s significant production capacity and the enormous opportunities available for downstream processing.

Ike-Muonso noted that Nigeria produces over 63 million metric tonnes of cassava annually, making it the world’s largest producer, while also maintaining strong positions in cocoa, cashew, sesame, palm oil and cotton. However, more than 80 per cent of agricultural output leaves farms without adequate processing, resulting in the loss of significant economic value and industrial opportunities.

In the solid minerals sector, he identified more than 44 commercially viable minerals across over 500 locations, including lithium, gold, barite, bitumen, iron ore and high-grade limestone, describing them as strategic resources capable of supporting steel production, energy storage, electrification and advanced manufacturing.

The DG further drew attention to Nigeria’s industrial and agro-waste resources, noting that the country generates over 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually. He explained that agricultural residues, cassava peels, scrap metals, plastics and electronic waste could serve as important feedstock for bio-fertilisers, industrial chemicals, recycled polymers, energy production and other manufacturing applications.

In the agricultural sector, the DG identified cassava and industrial starch, cotton and natural textiles, natural rubber and elastomers, oil palm and oleochemicals, maize derivatives and cocoa processing as priority areas requiring increased investment.

He explained that processing agricultural commodities into industrial starch, sweeteners, textiles, technical rubber, specialty fats and other intermediate products would enable Nigeria to capture more value from its agricultural resources while reducing dependence on imported industrial inputs.

For the minerals sector, he highlighted crude oil-to-olefins and petrochemicals, lithium and energy storage, iron ore and steel, rare earth elements, bauxite and aluminium, and copper and electrification as strategic investment opportunities.

He particularly emphasised the importance of moving beyond mineral extraction into beneficiation, refining, battery precursors, industrial chemicals, metal fabrication and advanced materials production.

On the circular economy, Prof. Ike-Muonso identified electronic waste recovery, scrap metal recycling, plastic waste processing, agro-waste valorisation and battery recycling as emerging industrial opportunities.

He explained that transforming waste into productive industrial feedstock would not only reduce environmental pollution but also create new manufacturing industries, generate employment and reduce the importation of valuable industrial materials.

He noted that to address the structural challenges confronting raw material-based industrialisation, the DG highlighted the strategic interventions of the RMRDC, particularly the proposed 30% Value Addition Bill and the Nigeria Integrated Information Statistical System for Raw Materials and Products (NISSRAMP).

He described the 30% Value Addition Bill as an important policy instrument designed to encourage domestic processing of raw materials before export, strengthen local manufacturing capacity and guarantee access to essential raw materials for Nigerian industries, and NISSRAMP as a critical data infrastructure that would improve access to verified information on the availability, location and quality of raw materials.

According to him, the combination of appropriate policy instruments and reliable resource data would help de-risk investments, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s raw material sector.

He emphasised the importance of collaboration among government, academia and industry in developing bankable projects, sharing investment risks and accelerating the establishment of processing and manufacturing facilities.

Professor Ike-Muonso called on Nigerians in the diaspora and other local and international investors to take advantage of the opportunities available in Nigeria’s raw material sector.

He identified industrial processing parks, mineral beneficiation and refining, agro-industrial platforms, circular-material processing, industrial input manufacturing and enabling infrastructure as viable investment platforms.

He noted that diaspora investors could contribute beyond financial capital by bringing technology, international business networks, governance standards, technical expertise and access to global markets.

He maintained that Nigeria’s industrial transformation requires coordinated investment across the entire value chain, from raw material sourcing and aggregation to processing, manufacturing, certification and export development.

Professor Ike-Muonso stressed that the country’s industrial future would depend not merely on the volume of raw materials extracted but on the capacity to transform them into competitive products that meet domestic and international market requirements.

He maintained that developing local value chains would stimulate industrial growth, create employment opportunities, diversify exports, conserve foreign exchange and deepen Nigeria’s technological capabilities.

Through its strategic interventions, the RMRDC is positioning itself as a critical bridge between resource availability, investment opportunities and industrial competitiveness, with the ultimate objective of transforming Nigeria from a predominantly raw material exporting economy into a strong manufacturing and value-adding nation.

Ike-Muonso has demonstrated this since assumption of office as the Director General/ CEO RMRDC in the area of capacity building, improved working conditions, promotion of merit, and maintaining a conducive environment that rewards excellence, innovation and dedication. This is evident in his institution of RMRDC training school, reward for winners of the RMRDC innovation challenge among others.

His commitment has brought recognition both nationally and internationally: Al-Jazirah double honour awards as Public Servant /Government Agency of the year 2024-2025 and the recent election as the Sub-Saharan Africa Regional Representative on the Board of the World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organisations (WAITRO) is a attestation to his commitment.

Concluding the lecture, the DG charged staff, researchers, manufacturers and investors to see themselves as nation builders in the new era of raw materials-led industrialization.

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