Every political history student of Nigeria would readily remember the Great Kingsley Ozuomba Mbadiwe (1915-1990), the man of “timber and calibre” of Nigeria’s politics, at a mere glance on the title of this piece.
Chief Mbadiwe bestrode the Nigeria’s political landscape like a colossus from the era of nationalism tothe demise of the second republic in 1983; he served as one of the conscience of the first republic but his greatest imprint in Nigeria’s political galaxy still resonates owing to his immeasurable contribution in the establishment of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He also convinced the Constituent Assembly of 1977 to enshrine in our constitution the criterion that a presidential candidate must win at least 25 per cent of the valid votes cast in 2/3 states of the federation before he can be declared the winner of the presidential election; this, he reasoned, would guide against electing sectional warriors, through simple majority, to the all important presidency of this great country.
Indeed, Mbadiwe brought vibrancy, intelligence, patriotism, love and oratorical skills which illuminated the glorious days of our politics. However, this piece is not about Mbadiwe but Anambra State, Light of the Nation, as it prepares to elect Governor Peter Obi’s successor come November 16, 2013.
The press release by the electoral umpire, INEC, on September 24, 2013 announcing the cleared 23 candidates for the gubernatorial election have elevated the politics of Anambra state to its all time peak with parties and candidates making frantic overtures to the electorates on why they should be voted into office as Governor Obi exits.
So far, all the candidates contesting in the forthcoming election have unveiled their manifestos to the people except the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate, Comrade Tony Nwoye, who appears to be more occupied with settling the plethora of court cases challenging his candidacy than canvassing for the people’s votes.
As political campaigns, political horse-trading, alignment and re-alignment go haywire, one issue has been popularised in the forefront of public discourse by the APC’s candidate, Senator Chris Ngige: zoning of the governorship slot to Anambra North senatorial zone.
Hear Senator Ngige, as reported in ThisDay of October 17, 2013, “As far as the case of Anambra State is concerned, on this zoning issue, there was no time that we either covertly or overtly agreed on any zoning formula. We have never even by implication done anything that could suggest such.”
He further argued that, “Ukpabi Asika was from there; Chuba Okadigbo, Moses Balonwu, Mbanefo were all from there among their other great sons and daughters, who have been at higher positions and every other zones supported them without discrimination. If we have such discriminatory tendency, we will no longer allow anybody from the North because when their sons were in big positions even greater than the position of a governor, all the zones supported them massively. The administrator that was appointed for the entire South-east, Ukpabi Asika, ruled and reigned for eight years and other zones were happy because they saw him as Anambra’s son. Why are we now bringing discrimination?”
However, Senator Ngige who hails from Anambra central is not running on “zoning” but he uses every available opportunity to shout political victimisation by alleging that Governor Obi introduced zoning into Anambra politics to thwart his gubernatorial dream.
Unarguably, unlike Abia State which enshrined Abia Charter of Equity as its guiding principle in public governance on the eve of its birthday, Anambra State did not at any time in history debate nor agree on zoning its governorship seat; Anambra State has always settled for available best in its politics to govern. So to that extent, Senator Ngige is right; but some political practices are not unchangeable in reality.
To buttress this point, the Nigerian constitution recognizes our pecluarities which impelled the practice of federal (state) character in government business such that every section of Nigeria would reasonably get fair treatment in government businesses and leadership.
Bringing it down home, the Igbo tradition and culture and world view are built on fairness, equity, justice and equality. So, it makes perfect sense to argue that although zoning, as it is urged today in Anambra State is entirely an APGA affair, reflects the qualities of the Igbo nation and it can never be said that Anambra North lacks gubernatorial candidates who can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with their counterpartsfrom other zones of Anambra State.
For example, for every Francis Cardinal Arinze in Anambra State, ndi-Anambra North can forward their Blessed Iwene Tansi; for any Professor Dora Akunyili in Anambra State, there is also a Dr Philip Emeagwali. Of course, in every Professor Chinua Achebe, Anambra North can parade Professor Chike Obi too; this is also the case in every humble and entrepreneurial Peter Obi comes a good match in Olisa Agbakoba. Thus, the list of eminent and accomplished sons and daughters of Anambra North is endless and they represent the finest the Igbo nation boasts of. Thus, it would be the height of hypocrisy to argue that Anambra North lacks governorship candidates.
However, the evergreen rule of the Great Mbadiwe seems apposite at this point in time to frame the conscience of the people on how to vote this November when he enthused, “If all my proposed rotational zones, in their turn, produced Presidents over the years, the need for zoning could perhaps no longer arise, and we would have zoned to the unzoned.”
Thus, it appears ndi-Anambra have a historic opportunity to “zone to unzone” in November in such a way that electing a brother from Anambra North this year would permanently nail the “coffin of zoning” in the state so that Anambra state can fully settle down and elect a governor of its choice based on merit and general acceptability from 2017 going forward.
In all, it lies with the Anambra electorates to seek justice, equity and fairness to their kits and kin from Anambra North in the forthcoming governorship election or elect to suppress their legitimate and valid urge for yet another four years but the indisputable fact remains: whatever happens in Anambra State on November 16 shall determine the seriousness of ndigbo to have a shot at Aso Rock in the nearest future. This is because Nigeria and Nigerians are keenly watching and following this election and would not fail to use its outcome to hinder an Igbo man from becoming Nigeria’s president anytime soon.
After all, a tribe that continues to successfully marginalize its sub-tribe cannot canvass for equity and justice in the comity of tribes in Nigeria.
Okafor C. Udoka
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