Zoning and quest for automatic ticket take centre stage in the build-up to 2015 politics in Anambra State, Special Correspondent, OKEY MADUFORO, writes.
There are indications that the storm that had hovered on Anambra State before the 2013 governorship election over zoning has not settled. This is despite the fact that Anambra North Senatorial District, which had been crying marginalisation in the state’s politics, eventually produced the current governor, Willie Obiano.
In apparent continuation of the bid to ensure fairness and equity in the power sharing formula, Anambra North further zoned the senatorial seat of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to the Ogbaru-Onitsha political bloc, given that Obiano is from the Omabala side of the zone. Many had thought that with the arrangement, issues arising from powershift would have been laid to rest.
But this does not seem to be the case, following insistence by some gladiators in Omabala who argue that the Ogbaru-Onitsha bloc has benefited more in the list of political appointees in the area.
Currently, three senatorial aspirants have emerged ahead of APGA primaries, out of which, two are from Ogbaru-Onitsha area.
Former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, from Ogbaru, is rumoured to be warming up for a senatorial election. Former Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Local Government Matters, Dubem Obaze, is also said to be interested in the seat.
The zoning arrangement is also unsettling some people and, following the declaration by Obiano at a rally in Awka in support of President Goodluck Jonathan that APGA’s senatorial ticket for Anambra Central is automatically left for its National Chairman, Victor Umeh.
Against this backdrop, the scramble for automatic ticket is gradually picking up, as other senatorial aspirants and House of Representatives hopefuls are also said to be angling for similar treatment.
For example, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke is alleged to have received automatic ticket from the governor for Anambra North. Key APGA members have, however, dismissed the story as most unlikely.
Though Obiano has been silent over the allegations that he secretly gave Igbeke automatic ticket, APGA chieftains from the zone are said to be at unease, contending, in the event of the story turning real, that the governor would be instigating a regime of crisis that may overwhelm him politically and ultimately destroy the agreed zoning arrangement in Anambra.
Incidentally, Igbeke, according to reports, has gone to town with his senatorial ambition and is already holding meetings in that regard.
He has commenced consultation on the election, while the incumbent, Mrs. Margery Okadigbo, wants a second tenure. Margery is widow to erstwhile Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.
Igbeke and Okadigbo are from the Omabala bloc.
Argument in support of the Omabala against the zoning arrangement, according to Igbeke, is that “there is no equity in Anambra North in view of the number of political appointees from Ogbaru axis. The Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and a Senior Special Assistant to the governor are from Ogbaru. Ditto the former Minister of Aviation. This is imbalance and it will not be fair for the senator to come from Ogbaru again.”
But Igbeke’s submission on the perceived imbalance came under attacks by the Ogbam-Onitsha political bloc who contended that it holds no water. They further argued that the Omabala sub-zone should have protested Oduah’s appointment when the demand for a powershift to Anambra North was being canvassed before the 2013 gubernatorial election in the state.
In the same vein, the Publicity Director of Anambra North Democratic Forum (ANDF) and former member of the House of Assembly, Ejiofor Egwuatu, told TheNiche that Igbeke’s argument smacks of betrayal of the entire essence of zoning in the state.
“When we said the position of Anambra State governor should go to the North, we all agreed that we would not care which of the political blocs would produce the governor. We all worked towards that and agreed that since Omabala has produced the governor, Ogbaru-Onitsha bloc should produce the senator. During that agreement, no Omabala man protested and it was sealed,” he insisted.
While the matter lingers, stakeholders in the zone are said to have commenced discreet assessment of the aspirants.
A section, our reporter learnt, sees the candidature of the incumbent senator in the last election as one borne of compassion following the personality and death of her husband, adding that her standing on her own merit in subsequent election may not secure her a second term victory, given the stiff competition for the position.
In the case of Igbeke, observers accuse him of having unenviable record of jumping from one party to another in a bid to actualise his ambition. He became a House of Representatives member in 2003 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He allegedly tried to fly the flag of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) in the 2007 general election to contest the same House of Representatives seat, but got the ticket for Anambra North.
Igbeke entered into a prolonged litigation against Senator Joy Emordi and was ultimately declared winner of the said election by the Appeal Court. He also had tussles over the seat with Mrs. Okadigbo at a time.
Obaze, former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, however, seems to hold the ace in the unfolding dispensation.
His admirers describe him as a loyal and committed APGA member, adding that his period as local government commissioner witnessed immense growth in infrastructure in the communities and rural areas.
His success story in local government and community development, TheNiche further gathered, saw him almost emerging APGA governorship candidate in 2013 governorship election, but for certain developments that made him bow to party directives. He later became the Director of Logistics for the Willie Obiano Campaign Organisation.
He is also seen as the bridge-builder between APGA and other political parties in the state and had always played the human face of former Governor Peter Obi’s administration when the going was tough.
Oduah is not new to Anambra people as a politician. Critics and admirers are in agreement that she has been involved in several empowerment programmes for the people of the zone.
Though she appears somewhat far from home given her position in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, she still remains one of the top contenders for the position.
