November 2013 is the month of governorship election in Anambra State. It attracts nationwide
attention and review for obvious reasons. The intriguing political development in the state in
recent past which culminated in the removal of Senator Andy Ubah and confirmation of Governor
Peter Obi as the state’s helmsman gives the state, an undeniable position as the only state whose
governorship election comes earlier than others. The good thing is that the associated judicial and
legal tussle in the battle for the seat has been regarded as one of the critical judicial contribution to
consolidation of democratic dispensation and sustenance in Nigeria. His Excellency, Dr. Peter Obi
showed uncommon resilience in pursuit of the given mandate by ndi Anambra for two terms which
is about expiring.
The Governor is now at it again showing the same resilience in pursuing the agenda of convincing
the citizens of the state and other stakeholders that it is fair and equitable to have a person of
Anambra North extraction as the next governor of the State. In his opinion which has since become
the opinion of the ruling party in the state; APGA, the credible opposition PDP and which is fast
becoming the view of majority of ndi Anambra, zoning the governorship position will do Anambra
well. In the opinion of the proponents, it is fair, equitable and just to do so. Fair principles one
may say as a matter of expediency but definitely in developed democracies, the issue of zoning is
irrelevant. Merit, qualification, workable plan and delivery of educational, social and economical
impacting objectives would sway votes any day.
However, we are in Nigeria where zoning has become a norm in the politically charged and divisive
atmosphere since the inception of current democratic dispensation in 1999. For instance, President
Obasanjo was elected on basis of zonal pacification. The three top most political positions of
president, vice president and senate president in Nigeria are currently occupied on basis of zoning.
Educationally, children from Anambra state, Delta state etc are deprived their places in Federal
Government Colleges because their less qualified counterparts from other states up North have to
be included on basis of zoning. The truth is that Nigeria still stands as a nation today due to zoning
explicitly or implicitly. It is even encapsulated in Federal Character provisions and has been strongly
advocated to be strengthened in the constitution. That is how far we have come with the
unfortunate principle. Without doubt, zoning has encouraged mediocrity and discrimination. But in
practice, zoning seems now the practicable and alternative arrangement to crisis and is now
regarded as stabilization factor in the various fragile arrangements we have at all levels of
governance in the country. Zoning now means inclusion. It is now even extended to social and
economic arrangement by the government. How a system now functions be it governance,
economic etc are hinged on workable arrangement grounded on zoning principles of inclusion.
Zoning is now justified and increasingly applied across board in different ramifications.
Anambra should have its own good policy of inclusion through zoning. In governorship matters,
Governor Obi seeks to promote inclusion and has tried it in assembling his executive management
team. Ndi Anambra should now try and sustain it at all levels particularly at governorship position.
Simply speaking, Anambra North Senatorial Zone should be entitled to present the candidates
from all the political parties in the next governorship election. The parties participating in the
election should encourage, support and endorse the array of qualified governorship candidates
from Anambra North extraction. It is not necessarily because there are no better candidates
elsewhere who might have strongly supported and advocated for the development of the zone but
because it has become absolutely necessary to include all sides of our great state in governorship
arrangement. Senator Ngige, Ifeanyi Uba and others from other zones are very worthy candidates,
so are Comrade Tony Nwoye (not because he is my friend), Sir Willy Obiano (his credentials speak for
itself not because he worked in Governor Obi affiliated institution), Hon. Basil Onuorah and others.
Anambra North axis should get the slot now before it swings back to the other zones that have
held governorship position since the creation of the state. To our people and true supporters of the
zoning formula, it does not matter the political platform, let the candidate be from Anambra North.
Opinion varies on the matter, but that of the contestants and their supporters attract most
attention. Senator Ngige, Businessman Ifeanyi Ubah and their supporters have said that Anambra
North is not politically marginalized. That is being economical with the truth as they used
generalization analogy. I will not comment on the lame argument that late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who
was President of Nigeria and late Hon. Ukpabi Asika who was administrator in 60’s before Anambra
State came into existence were from Anambra North. I am aware that since the creation of present
Anambra State, Anambra North has produced Chief Judges of the State, former Deputy Governors
like late Dr. Chidi Nwike and Prince Chinedu Emeka, Ministers such as Dr. Tim Menakaya, Prince John
Okechukwu Emeka, Senator Joy Emodi and presently the performing minister of Aviation, Princess
Stella Oduah amongst other notable office holders. It is also on record that the highest federal
political office holder from Anambra north since creation of present Anambra State was late Dr.
Chuba Okadigbo (of evergreen memory). But Anambra North has not produced the GOVERNOR OF
THE STATE. This is the point. Nigeria suffers from concentration of too much powers in the executive
be it at federal, state and local government. The desire to hold this powerful position is because of
the faulted system of government in place and until the system is restructured, strange principles
of leadership, policy and development will continue to be witnessed at all levels of governance.
Anambra North deserves its own share of the powerful position of governor. How it is applied for
the development of Anambra State should only be analyzed when it has given the shot at it.
In conclusion, whoever emerges the governor (preferably someone from Anambra North) the
truth is that Anambra State is in dire need of development. A sound development plan is the vital
framework we need to go forward. So far, there has been too much grammar, media blitz and hot
air but less action. The impacts of current development efforts have been mixed but a new spirit
of enterprise is manifest. Regrettably, empowerment of people and social service delivery has not
happened quickly enough in Anambra, but Governor Obi started doing many things in new, albeit
strange ways like effective vigilante security, local government administration through president of
town unions and use of religious insitutions etc. I think some adjustments will be necessary in the
next administration. Anambra state has the resources and potentials. For example, it has a huge
inventory of housing all over that is dead capital because that cannot be turned to investable capital
due to lack of efficient registration procedures. A massive overhaul of our property law system akin
to Lagos will turn the assets into living capital and impact on revenue and enterprise development.
We need to establish a one-stop-shop for our property system. Lagos did this by creating a Land
Bureau and earned 5 Billion Naira in about 4 months. Anambra should have a set of codified laws
of Anambra State and modern rules of court. The weak legal system cannot support economic
development and investments. Anambra has the greatest number of small businesses (engine of
development in other economies) but 80 % of them exist underground in the informal sector and are
not captured by the legal framework. We should introduce a new legal framework for Small Business
Administration. The new oil exploration in the state (located in Anambra North) brings the additional
responsibility to design a sustainable oil and gas producing area development master plan. The
Government of Anambra State cannot possibly fund all development projects. Private-Public
Partnership and Privatization should be introduced. Governor Obi has initiated a solid relationship
with development partners which should also be encouraged.
Whatever is the outcome of the election, the next important thing is framing the agenda for
accelerated development of our beloved state.
VICTOR AKAZUE NWAKASI is a Lagos based lawyer and development consultant.
No comments:
Post a Comment