By chief mc ugoji, 08033479284
Democracy is a beautiful system of government. It is the best system known to man at this stage of our civilization and the closest that even the leading countries of the world can come to an Utopian government. For purposes of clarity and to avoid ambiguity, Utopia is “an imaginary place or state where all is perfect” Oxford English Dictionary.
Given the imperfection of democracy, therefore, societies adopt certain things peculiar to their clime, tradition and custom as a cushioning effect to wage the lapses involved in this imperfect system. In the United States of America, they have affirmative action. Simply put; Affirmative Action is a process of favouring and given certain advantages to the minority groups. Given the lopsided nature of the American pluralistic society, minorities like; Blacks and Latinos cannot favourably compete with the dominant Anglo-Saxon whites. To ensure parity, the Americans introduced Affirmative Action. Today, America is what it is, thanks, partly to Affirmative Action. Credit goes to policies like the Affirmative Action in ensuring that all in the ‘pot’ are truly melted into one, whence, North America is today proudly described as a “melting pot”.
They are, however, yet to get to Eldorado; that proverbial place of prosperity and abundance.
Setting America aside and coming to our father land Nigeria, we are zillions of miles away from Utopia and in our match to eldorado. The best our home variety of the almighty democracy can throw up is zoning. One, from the unset must realize that zoning does not solve all political problems but rather, it is our best answer currently in addressing our myriads and multy faceted political problems. In order not to deceive ourselves, let us right off the bat realize that first and foremost unless zoning is enshrined in our constitution (and it is currently not) – can not be used to deny any his/her constitutional guaranteed right to participation. This is to say that even when a position has been zoned to a particular area, you can not force or make anyone from the non favoured areas to withdraw from participation.
Secondly and perhaps as important as the aforestated is the fact that whereas dissidents and rascals cannot be stopped from participating, the system in place can lay land mines for such aspirant;., to make it impossible for them to emerge and even can outrightly stop them when they emerge. We have seen it happen in our state and local government levels. Let us site one sample at the state level and two at the local government level to illustrate this point. In the 1999 PDP primaries for the gubernatorial election, Barr. Humphrey Anumudu of Owerri Zone won the primaries. However, the party executives of the time led by Chief I.D. Nwoga (an Owerri zone man) denied Anumudu the ticket and gave it to Chief Achike Udenwa, an Orlu son arguing that justice and equity would be served for Orlu to take their turn. Barr. Humphrey Anumudu,” ever the gentle man, left the scene for Udenwa without a fight.
Owerri zone at the time did not agitate even as they could have resisted, with the argument that you do not change the goal post in the middle of the game, particularly changing the post after the shot has been released as it happened then. The aspirants were not told that it was Orlu zone’s turn.
Again, let us take Owerri North Local Government Area as an instance for Local Government Areas zoning happenstance. To lay the foundation; Owerri North Local Government does not operate their own constitution and have no written zoning agreement to the best of my knowledge, but they have an arrangement that has festered to an agreement. The people of Owerri North had an agreement based on zoning as a persuasive formular in ensuring peace, justice and equity in their area. The first test of the system was in 2007 when the then incumbent member representing the local government area in the State House of Assembly, Dr. Ken Obichere participated in the primaries against being advised not to do so. With superior financial muscle accentuated by incumbency factor, he easily won the primaries.
Thereafter, he was denied the ticket and it was given to Nze Ray Emeana from the Uratta block, whose turn it was to produce the member to represent the local government in the State House of Assembly. The true test of the people’s resolve to make zoning sacrosanct was in the last general elections. In the 2011 elections, again the incumbent, this time, Nze Ray Emeana insisted on returning to the House against the people’s believe, desire and system. He went further than his predecessor, Dr. Ken Obichere. Ray Emeana was ridding the crest of Ohakim’s template system, had the local government structure behind him and Groused home to victory in a widely criticised primaries. The people sulked and grumbled to no avail, but they were to get their pound of flesh during the elections proper.
The APGA Party had nominated a candidate from the OAU block whose turn it was to produce a successor for Ray Emeana, the ACN equally wisely did same. Resultantly, the election in the peoples mind was between the two candidates from the favoured OAU block, Hon. Dan Ikpazu of APGA won. Today, the people of Alaenyi whose turn it is to succeed Ikpazu come 2015 are warming up.
Note, as I postulated in one of my previous articles, reference, Trumpeta July 30, 2015, zoning is a concept that should bring succor to our myriad of political problems and headaches and should not be an added burden. What zoning should do is to guarantee a bite of the apple by all participating sections and segments by seeing to it that they get their turn. Zoning should not guarantee a second term in office because if it does, incumbents will take advantage of it to rape the people and steal them blind. Should zoning guarantee a second term, we will see arrogance, theft and brigandry the like of which we have never seen before.
Second term under zoning should be a pact between the people and the elected. If they perform to their admiration and satisfaction, they are rewarded with their votes for a second term, where their performance is below their expectation, they are voted out and the next zone ushered in. let us also remember that the military take over affected Owerri zone during Enwerem’s tenure, that short changed the zone but was seen as one of the shortcomings of this non utopic concept called zoning. So, even in a truncated term, you have taken your turn.
In the face of this reality therefore, Imo people must realize that whether or not there is a written charter of equity for zoning, that in our present day democracy, -zoning is the best persuasive formular capable of achieving the kind of height Affirmative Action has achieved in the United States of America. Happily, democrats are standing up to be counted. The other day, Senator Hope Uzodinma gave his support to zoning and said it is the turn of Owerri zone. Now, Senator Hope Uzodinma is an influential Imo State politician and the pillar of Orlu zone politics. When he speaks, it can equally be taken as a policy statement by Orlu people. This altruistic support of his is heart rendering. He, however gave a condition: That the zone must produce viable candidates, of course my most distinguished Senator, it goes without saying. Owerri zone must thank this “Daniel” that has come to judgment. Again, it has come to my knowledge and understanding that the good people of Okigwe zone are also echoing Senator Uzodinma sentiments in agreeing that it is the turn of Owerri Zone.
Now that the troika of the zones are in agreement, Owerri must now do what they must, what they are expected to do, give Imo people credible candidates in all the participating political parties to choose from. This is also a clarion call for those dissidents who are spoiling for war that the ship of harmony has set sail; unsheathe your swords, unbarre your fangs and sit-down your bared knockless as you are alone in the ring. The fight has been called off. The people of Imo State are happy with themselves. The call by one Mr. K.C. Okpalaeke (Nigerian Horn August 5- 6-2013) that zoning should be suspended until after the 2015 general elections is not an issue, it was never on the table and should not have come up in the first place.
That call is akin to saying, if Okigwe zone does not get a second term, zoning should be scrapped.
See how beautiful it is when brothers are in agreement. Our Holy Bible alludes to the beauty of coming together of siblings, Imo is one, Imo is together and even Owelle will tell you that Imo must be better, a-la- his way. What our constitution has put together (our state) let no person out asunder.
