By Ifeanyi Ogenyi Esq.

In recent times, so many jaundiced, accidental pundits/analysts have emerged, each claiming to be public-spirited and Public Affairs Analysts like one ONYEABOCHUKWU CHRISTIAN.

Recently, I came across an article written by the said Onyeabochukwu Christian in the Vanguard Newspaper of 04-08-2020 entitled ‘OF ENUGU 2023 ELECTION AND ZONING SENTIMENT’.

I feel compelled to respond to the article not because it worth it, but because of the inaccuracies, it conveyed and also to enlighten the unsuspecting readers and his social media fans.

I am not surprised by the tone, content, and intent of the article because the writer, the self-acclaimed Co-ordinator, Coalition of Enugu West Youth Organization has clearly shown where he is coming from. The article is one of the voices of Jacob but the hands of Esau.

However, it would have been better if the writer had started by telling us whom his sponsors are, why he has been hired to present this clueless article to the public just like Baalam in the scripture who was hired by Balak to curse the Israelites so as to stop their progress or is it due to some deliberate mischief?

The article would have been ignored because it stands logic and common sense on the head but to do so, however, will give credibility to falsehood and mischievous assertions designed to manipulate people’s perception of the realities on the ground regarding Enugu politics and it’s the long-standing power-sharing formula.

While I agree that the writer has the right to free speech, I don’t think such right should exceed the boundary of sound reasoning. Having said all these, it is now proper to address his hatchet job and in doing so I will restrict myself to the issues he raised.

A textual analysis of the article would throw up two key points namely:

1. That political zoning and other power-sharing arrangements have overshadowed liberal democracy; and
2. That Zoning is undemocratic and it encourages sacrificing meritocracy on the altar of mediocrity.

Zoning as a political arrangement is as old as man himself. It has been in existence for decades. In Nigeria, for instance, Zoning of key political offices in the country dates back to the second republic era when it was adopted in the 1979 Presidential election and the arrangement produced a Northern Nigerian President and Southern Vice President in the persons of Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Dr. Alex Ekwueme respectively. It would have been possible for the North to produce both the President and Vice President then and vice versa.

If not zoning, what does the basis of agitation for the Igbo Presidency come 2023? Or do we think that the southeast or South-South in Nigeria can attain to such a critical leadership position in Nigeria without zoning? The answer is capital NO!

Zoning is one of the practical solutions for bickering and disregard for others especially the disadvantaged minorities in the present Nigeria political landscape. It makes for every recognized zone or section in the country or state to be given a sense of belonging; and any zone that gets its turn should be magnanimous enough to allow others to get their turn.

Zoning as a political arrangement has engendered and promoted fairness, peaceful, equitable power-sharing, and representation at all levels of government.

Zoning though not entrenched in Nigeria Constitution is an acceptable democratic principle for power-sharing at federal, state, and local government levels in Nigeria.

It has become an acceptable practice that the major key political positions rotate among the recognized zones.

As a matter of fact, one of the key decisions reached at the National Confab of 2014 and which was recommended for implementation was the rotation of Presidential Position among the six Geo-political zones and Governorship position among the senatorial zones to ensure equity, fair play, and harmonious existence in the polity. This recommendation was well received and applauded by all well-meaning Nigerians especially those from the Southern part of this country including those that are now clamoring for zoning jettisoning.

Even at the National Assembly is widely adopted in sharing of the key positions and the zoning principle in place has made it possible for the sharing of the key positions in the National Assembly among the six geo-political zones; and most people whom their allies are today calling for questioning of Zoning are beneficiaries zoning arrangement at various times in their political carrier.

Zoning is not only democratic but it’s also a veritable mechanism for political stability and fairness as it diffuses the negative reactions and tendencies of a particular section, group or zone to remain in power as long as possible and to use the commonwealth of the people for the service of its sectional interests.

I am persuaded to state without mincing words that zoning in Enugu politics is a long-standing and acceptable political arrangement that has remarkably set Enugu State apart as a peaceful state where politics is played with little or no rancor and bickering.

It helps to narrow down political contests to a particular zone or section, thereby making the leadership recruitment process easy and manageable.

Since the inception of our evolving democracy, Enugu has always adopted the zoning principle in the sharing of key political positions since 1999 till the present administration. It has always been the case that at every dispensation, one Senatorial zone would produce the Governor of the State, another zone produces the Deputy Governor and it has been working perfectly that way.

The writer unguardedly asserted that zoning encourages sacrificing meritocracy at the altar of mediocrity. In response, I wish to state that zoning does not in any way undermine merit or having competent hands in leadership positions. There is no zone in Enugu State that does not have capable, competent, and qualified persons that can take leadership positions in Enugu even at the larger context of Nigeria politics.

In fact, zoning allows varieties of competent personalities from various zones to showcase their endowed good leadership qualities, perception, and innovative approach to leadership.

So the writer should not insult our collective senses of reasoning with his competence and best brain fallacies.

It is a well-known and acceptable fact except for those who want to distort the existing political arrangement in Enugu that it is the turn of the Enugu East Senatorial Zone to produce the next Governor of the State come 2023 and Enugu East Senatorial Zone has eminently qualified, experienced, the competent and best material for the position.

I make bold to say that Onyabochukwu’s assertions regarding zoning were made mala fide and contrary to his ill-motivated assertion that “zoning is like a prescription that kills instead of heals”, I submit that zoning is a democratic drug for fair play, equitable power-sharing formula and representation; and an effective cure and panacea for marginalization. It gives a sense of belonging to the various interest groups within the system including the perceived or the so-called minorities in the system.

Onyeabochukwu Christian’s metaphors of a leader giving to Agbaja 5%, giving Nsukka 90%, or Ndi Awgu 80% and Nkanu 15%, and other innuendoes contained in his article are mere trivialities that do not require dissipation of energy. It only shows how desperate and clueless the writer was as he is just hobbling and nobbling without making any sensible point to his readers except the gullible public and his social media fans.

Onyeabochukwu Christian, the self-acclaimed Coordinator of the Coalition of Enugu West Youth Organization should better support the long-standing zoning arrangement and age-long good practice; and wait for the turn of Enugu West Senatorial Zone.

Enugu people are wise and intelligent; and as such, they cannot accompany Onyeabochukwu  Christian or whatever name he called himself, his allies and cronies on this reckless journey on the path of ignorance which they say is a disease

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