The Anglican Bishop of Aguata Diocese, Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor, recently threw his weight behind the zoning arrangement towards the governorship race in Anambra State. Bishop Ezeofor urged governorship aspirants, who are not from Anambra South Senatorial District, to withdraw from the race in the interest of equity and justice. The prelate warned political gladiators not to truncate the zoning arrangement, instituted to accommodate other zones in order to give them a sense of belonging.
There is no doubt that one of the determining factors of who wins the election is the political concept of zoning. The zoning system has generated a great debate from all sides of the divide.
Those championing the course see it as a panacea to all forms of political wranglings. To them, it is a gateway to douse the overheated polity and an escape route to enthrone equity, justice and fairness. Others see zoning as a clause in the nation’s constitution. However, apart from the merits and demerits, there is still sense in the zoning arrangement.
Let us take Anambra North Senatorial Zone as case study. For many years, the zone had not produced a governor, as it had been a change of political baton between the Anambra Central and South Senatorial Zones.
In view of this lopsidedness, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) flew the zoning system kite and gave the coveted trophy to its Anambra North candidate, Chief Willie Obiano. Without that arrangement, Anambra North would have remained in the political limbo of marginalization and injustice.
Notably, this influenced the voting pattern in the 2017 Governorship Election and put paid to all other political permutations and obstinate narrow mindedness.
As the November 6 Governorship Election draws nearer, political analysts believe that APGA would perform the magic as in 2017 again, if their governorship flag bearer comes from the South. APGA’s zoning political arrangement seems to have melted the strong resolve of other parties, which may not key into this political ideology. This may be the undoing of other parties who may choose to field candidates from other zones.
To all intents and purposes, no party would be foolhardy or too head strong to field a non-southerner, as the political key players along the divides in the three Senatorial Zones may not agree to such a backing that may introduce marginalization in the polity.
Like Bishop Ezeofor said, Governorship aspirants, who are not from the South Senatorial Zone, should honourably quit the stage, no matter how relevant, competent, patriotic or qualified he or she may be. If this is not done, the voting pattern may attract protest votes, making non-Southern candidates to fall like pack of cards in the political power play of the Governorship race.
After all said and done, it may not be too surprising that politicians and various stakeholders have been agitating that their zone should produce the next governor. Those from the South Senatorial Zone should tread carefully to pick the right candidate to avoid a situation of protest votes in the zone.
There are so many billionaire political juggernauts in the three Senatorial Zones jostling for the Government House in Awka. For now, all the three senatorial zones have had the chance of governing the State.
But, this does not go to show that the zoning system will be thrown overboard. This is a job to be fine turned by the Anambra State Elders Council, Stakeholders and political analysts. God bless His people.
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