Since the creation of the new Anambra state in 1991,it was only Anambra North Senatorial district that has never produced a Governor of the state likewise the Ekiti South Senatorial district since 1996 when the state was created.
Anambra North is likely to produce the next governor of the state in November 16,2013 because it has the highest voting strength compare with other two senatorial districts. The two major political parties zoned their candidates to Anambra North.
Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano is APGA flag bearer in Anambra Governorship election to hold on November 16,2013,He is from the oil-bearing Aguleri in Anambra North Senatorial District while Dr Tony Okechukwu Nwoye is the standard bearer of the PDP in Anambra Governorship election,He is from Offiantta Village,Nsugbe in Anambra East Local Government,Anambra North Senatorial District.
Out of Nine(9) elected Governors produced in the state. Two of the elected Governors were old Anambra state “Enugu state” (Chief Jim Nwobodo and Chief Christian Onoh) other elected Governors are: Dr Chukuwuemeka Ezeife (Anambra south) Dr Chinwoke Mbadinugu (Anambra south) Senator Chris Ngige ( Anambra Central) Peter Obi ( Anambra Central) Verginia Etiaba( Anambra South) Andy Uba ( Anambra South) Peter Obi ( Anambra Central)
Likewise in Ekiti State, it was only Ekiti South Senatorial District that has never produced a governor of the state since the return of democracy in the country 1999. Out of the Four elected Governors produced in the state,Ekiti Central and North Senatorial Districts had produced two Governors each,they are: Otunba Niyi Adebayo (Iyin Ekiti) Ekiti Central Dr Ayo Fayose (Afao Ekiti) Ekiti Central Engr Segun Oni (Ifaki Ekiti) Ekiti North Dr Kayode Fayemi (Isan Ekiti) Ekiti North.
Party politics and zoning are very important elements of any liberal with a wave of hand in primordial state like Ekiti State. Power shift or zoning as the case maybe is the only way forward for our amiable state because of our different senatorial districts.
All progressive party(APC) had shifted their Governorship race to the Ekiti North /Central Senatorial District where the zone have produced two governors each. The ideology of APC is different from other parties in Nigeria(Ondo and Anambra States as a case Study). I think the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) will shift the Governorship position to the South Senatorial District,the largest Local Government Area and which has never produced a governor since the creation of the state.
Infact,it is clear in PDP constitution that there is zoning and rotation everywhere,Right from National level through the various states to Local Government areas and electoral wards arrangement across the country. I refer to the PDP constitution,Article 7 subsection 2(c) which states that in pursuance of the principle of Equity,Justice and Fairness,the party shall adhere to the policy of rotation and zoning of the party and public offices and it shall be enforced by the appropriate executive committee at all levels.(PDP constitution,1999).
Ekiti people especially PDP SWC and PDP NWC,should promote peace and stability,fairness and equity. we need to focus on Governorship aspirants that come from Ekiti South Senatorial district such as His Excellencies Adebisi Omoyeni,Abiodun Aluko other are Senator Gbenga Aluko,Prince Dayo Adeyeye,Amb Dare Bejide,Pham Bimbo Owolabi,Rt(Hon) Femi Bamisile Senator Bode Olowoporoku,Dr Kunle Folayan,Hon Ropo Ogunbodunde,Mr Babatunde Larin-Alabi and Mr Mayowa Aluko.
Many would argue that many of the above listed aspirants are ‘ no name’ people,but they forgot that prior to the 1999 election,how many people have heard the name of Otunba Niyi Adebayo who later became Governor? Let us assume that Adebayo is not good example judging from the below Average rate his administration achieved,how about his successors? How many people had heard about Mr Ayo Fayose prior to the 2003 election? Even Five months to the election,did many ever heard of him? Did many gave him a chance of making any difference? How many people heard about Engr Segun Oni? How about Gov Kayode Fayemi? Did many so-called pundits ever heard of Fayemi prior to 2007 election?
I understand that at the end of the day,it is the people of Ekiti State that will decide who will be their next Governor but we should not forget the fact that in the interest of Equity,Justice and Fairness,every section of the state should show a sense of belonging.
Ekiti State belongs to all of us and not to a particular Zone.
Ekiti south Senatorial district should be given the chance to present the next Governor like other Zone in the state.
God bless Ekiti South Senatorial District;
God bless the land of honour;
God the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Amuda Emmanuel Writes from Ikere Ekiti +2347033475634
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