A REJOINDER : By Law Mefor
Oseloka Obaze, seen above is the secretary to the government of Anambra State, in an article in the Sun published on Sept. 6, titled ‘Why Anambra Has To Go North’, raised more questions than answers. He made rather incongruent efforts to make a case for Anambra North as a zone that is yet to produce the governor of Anambra state, while the others have done so. The argument is irretrievably flawed on several grounds and attempt needs to be made to make those who reason in that manner to regain perspective.
To begin with, Anambra is State that is home to 4 million Nigerians, over 99% of them are of Igbo extraction and some of the most important black men that ever lived. It is therefore a State where things ought to be done better. Yet, what obtains is a situation where some have arrogated to themselves the prerogative of dispensation of favours. That is why some people have bypassed even the ruling party in the State All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to zone away to the Anambra North the governorship of the State, since there is no existing record of where the party ever took such a decision.
At the State level, such a notion has also never been canvassed; usually a decision of such monumental implications ought to be canvassed at stakeholders’ forum, convened for such purpose where such a forum is nonexistent. Yet, the promoters of such a notion, however noble and well-intentioned, never believed that the other people count, and would try to shove it down their throat anyway.
The emotional blackmail that this absurd campaign has since become creates the impression that Anambra North Senatorial Zone is unduly marginalized. Nothing can be farther than the truth. Historically, Anambra North has never been lacking in political representation or equation in Anambra. From the foundation of Nigeria to the recent past, Anambra North has always led the political pack of the State. For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first Nigeria’s President, was once the Premier of Eastern Region, even when a greater part of the South South was part of the enclave. Dr. Azikiwe was from Onitsha, which is in Anambra North.
In 1967, when the East Central State was created by General Yakubu Gowon, Ajie Anthony Ukpabi Asika was made a Sole Administrator. He was given a free rein by the Gowon administration and he ruled maximally and without a parliament or any form of opposition. That gave him the power to make 3 of his Onitsha kinsmen Commissioners in the same cabinet and yet another Secretary to the Government. He made his budget and developed the area as he wished, as there was no statutory organ to check or challenge his actions and he was in power till 1975. Ukpabi Asika was from Onitsha and again Onitsha is in Anambra North. To say nothing about appointments and commanding slots like Senate Presidency, ministerial, ambassadorial and so forth, majority of which have gone to Anambra North, without the other zones berthing an eyebrow.
Since the return to democratic dispensation, zoning the governorship position has never been an issue until recently when a clique of the ruling party in the State brought it to the fore. What Obaze has claimed in his trite treatise is that the zone is peopled with well-qualified men and women capable of giving Anambra State a first-class leadership. Every local government in Anambra State boasts of men of timber and caliber and caterpillar (apologies K.O. Mbadiwe) who can do the same. But that is beside the point. Nobody shaves a man behind his back. How democratic was the decision (and by who?) to wave the constitutional right of the other 2 Zones in Anambra State to make the governorship to go Anambra north?
Perhaps more important is the caliber of men being foisted on the State. Mr. Obaze himself reeled out a catalogue of such well-endowed and overly qualified men from the zone, including his good self. But the fact is that Chief Willy Obiano and Tony Nwoye are not, in the candid estimation of most of us from the 2 other Zones, the best the north has to offer. Even Mr. Obaze himself stands head and shoulder above the two combined, in terms of cognate experience, academic qualification, international exposure and other requisite qualities that will confer the basic competency to make a governor function without being teleguided by his godfathers.
Yet, the 2 SSGs, past and present, were sidestepped and a former Minister too, to pick a former banker and who many plausibly say is a business partner of the governor. Such curious decision is goaded by even more curious APGA primaries, where top aspirants like Iyom Uche Ekwunife fumed that they had no idea who the delegates were, which meant that the process of their emergence was irretrievably flawed and conceived to ensure the business partner emerged.
Many contend that if indeed the Governor meant well and had genuinely wished the zone to produce a Governor to serve the State, Obiano, who many just learned of his name only weeks ago for the first time, let alone seeing him in person, can hardly be the first choice. What ought to be uppermost on his mind, they further contend, should have been continuity of policies and programmes and who is in a better position to ensure that than his SSGs or former Minister?
So, we understand Oseloka Obaze is trying to be a good party man, and supporting his zone and brother, Obiano. Like Igbos would say, rather than allow your cow to escape completely, you might as well cut off the tail and make do with it. Half of bread is better than none. Deep down him, Obaze knows the truth, and the muted anger simmering and searing through APGA entire membership will implode when the wrong choice and selfish motive behind it fully unravel, when Jega keeps his promise to let the votes count and the masses chose their governor.
Zoning is a good thing, but it has to be a policy well canvassed, agreed to by the 3 zones and possibly legislated. Even the Igbos need it to gain access to Aso Rock. But like President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan has said about zoning the President of Nigeria, you cannot zone what you have no control over. So it is with Anambra governorship and the hope of proponents of zoning in the State will remain what it is: an empty dream.
• Law Mefor,
Transform Nigeria Movement Office Abuja.+234-803-787-2893
Oseloka Obaze, seen above is the secretary to the government of Anambra State, in an article in the Sun published on Sept. 6, titled ‘Why Anambra Has To Go North’, raised more questions than answers. He made rather incongruent efforts to make a case for Anambra North as a zone that is yet to produce the governor of Anambra state, while the others have done so. The argument is irretrievably flawed on several grounds and attempt needs to be made to make those who reason in that manner to regain perspective.
To begin with, Anambra is State that is home to 4 million Nigerians, over 99% of them are of Igbo extraction and some of the most important black men that ever lived. It is therefore a State where things ought to be done better. Yet, what obtains is a situation where some have arrogated to themselves the prerogative of dispensation of favours. That is why some people have bypassed even the ruling party in the State All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, to zone away to the Anambra North the governorship of the State, since there is no existing record of where the party ever took such a decision.
At the State level, such a notion has also never been canvassed; usually a decision of such monumental implications ought to be canvassed at stakeholders’ forum, convened for such purpose where such a forum is nonexistent. Yet, the promoters of such a notion, however noble and well-intentioned, never believed that the other people count, and would try to shove it down their throat anyway.
The emotional blackmail that this absurd campaign has since become creates the impression that Anambra North Senatorial Zone is unduly marginalized. Nothing can be farther than the truth. Historically, Anambra North has never been lacking in political representation or equation in Anambra. From the foundation of Nigeria to the recent past, Anambra North has always led the political pack of the State. For the avoidance of doubt, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first Nigeria’s President, was once the Premier of Eastern Region, even when a greater part of the South South was part of the enclave. Dr. Azikiwe was from Onitsha, which is in Anambra North.
In 1967, when the East Central State was created by General Yakubu Gowon, Ajie Anthony Ukpabi Asika was made a Sole Administrator. He was given a free rein by the Gowon administration and he ruled maximally and without a parliament or any form of opposition. That gave him the power to make 3 of his Onitsha kinsmen Commissioners in the same cabinet and yet another Secretary to the Government. He made his budget and developed the area as he wished, as there was no statutory organ to check or challenge his actions and he was in power till 1975. Ukpabi Asika was from Onitsha and again Onitsha is in Anambra North. To say nothing about appointments and commanding slots like Senate Presidency, ministerial, ambassadorial and so forth, majority of which have gone to Anambra North, without the other zones berthing an eyebrow.
Since the return to democratic dispensation, zoning the governorship position has never been an issue until recently when a clique of the ruling party in the State brought it to the fore. What Obaze has claimed in his trite treatise is that the zone is peopled with well-qualified men and women capable of giving Anambra State a first-class leadership. Every local government in Anambra State boasts of men of timber and caliber and caterpillar (apologies K.O. Mbadiwe) who can do the same. But that is beside the point. Nobody shaves a man behind his back. How democratic was the decision (and by who?) to wave the constitutional right of the other 2 Zones in Anambra State to make the governorship to go Anambra north?
Perhaps more important is the caliber of men being foisted on the State. Mr. Obaze himself reeled out a catalogue of such well-endowed and overly qualified men from the zone, including his good self. But the fact is that Chief Willy Obiano and Tony Nwoye are not, in the candid estimation of most of us from the 2 other Zones, the best the north has to offer. Even Mr. Obaze himself stands head and shoulder above the two combined, in terms of cognate experience, academic qualification, international exposure and other requisite qualities that will confer the basic competency to make a governor function without being teleguided by his godfathers.
Yet, the 2 SSGs, past and present, were sidestepped and a former Minister too, to pick a former banker and who many plausibly say is a business partner of the governor. Such curious decision is goaded by even more curious APGA primaries, where top aspirants like Iyom Uche Ekwunife fumed that they had no idea who the delegates were, which meant that the process of their emergence was irretrievably flawed and conceived to ensure the business partner emerged.
Many contend that if indeed the Governor meant well and had genuinely wished the zone to produce a Governor to serve the State, Obiano, who many just learned of his name only weeks ago for the first time, let alone seeing him in person, can hardly be the first choice. What ought to be uppermost on his mind, they further contend, should have been continuity of policies and programmes and who is in a better position to ensure that than his SSGs or former Minister?
So, we understand Oseloka Obaze is trying to be a good party man, and supporting his zone and brother, Obiano. Like Igbos would say, rather than allow your cow to escape completely, you might as well cut off the tail and make do with it. Half of bread is better than none. Deep down him, Obaze knows the truth, and the muted anger simmering and searing through APGA entire membership will implode when the wrong choice and selfish motive behind it fully unravel, when Jega keeps his promise to let the votes count and the masses chose their governor.
Zoning is a good thing, but it has to be a policy well canvassed, agreed to by the 3 zones and possibly legislated. Even the Igbos need it to gain access to Aso Rock. But like President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan has said about zoning the President of Nigeria, you cannot zone what you have no control over. So it is with Anambra governorship and the hope of proponents of zoning in the State will remain what it is: an empty dream.
• Law Mefor,
Transform Nigeria Movement Office Abuja.+234-803-787-2893
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