BY IMAIMA
The principle of zoning and rotation of powers is a philosophy of power sharing which is as old as man’s existence on earth and is believed to be older than democracy itself. It is on record that the system was practiced in Athens and Sparta in particular by the Greeks. The Roman Empire used it with great profit.
Zoning and rotation principle is part of a democratic culture used to address the problems inherent in a polyglot society. It is another name for fair play, compromise and coexistence. It counters the negative impulse and tendency of a group of people to remain in office as long as possible and use the resources of the nation to service its narrow and parochial interests. It also offers itself as an antidote to a practice that engenders nepotism, promotes corruption and breeds inefficiency, which in turn stultifies growth and sustainable development. If power is allowed to systematically rotate between the various zones, the political space will not only widen, the process will definitely throw out capable leaders who can transform our state and move it to greater heights. The rotation principle on basis of zones would also strengthen loyalty to state because it would guarantee access to the highest offices of the land to all sections of the polity. But these cannot be realized if zoning and rotation does not make fairness, equity, and social justice the cardinal principle in which it is practiced. Zones must come as equals and take their turn on the basis of equality, accepting that what is good for the geese is also good for the gander.
At the current level of socio-political development, every patriotic AkwaIbomites wants a state where things work. Zoning and rotation if truthfully implemented will ensure a better Akwa Ibom. The time may, however, come when these considerations may matter less in our political considerations, when we will begin to think more of merit than ethnic or sectional origin. But this may wait until Akwa Ibom family bound by a chord outside “tribe and tongue”, is bound by something stronger than our own brand of “brotherhood”. By then, rotation and term limits may be considered anachronistic. Presently, a majority of AkwaIbomites subscribe to zoning and rotation. Whatever divergent expressions seen in the political horizon are matters of personal opinion which is allowed in a democracy.
Eket Senatorial District People Assembly supports the principle of zoning and rotation because it is very critical for the sustainable political development of Akwa Ibom, but its implementation must be based on equity, justice and fairness.
Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State during the solemn assembly held January this year confirmed everyone’s fears when he finally showed a chip of his mind considering the 2015 governorship election. As far back as 2008 which is quite a long time before now, some whistle blowers had alerted the possibility of Governor Akpabio jettisoning the zoning arrangement in his succession plans. During the build up to the 2011 governorship elections, Akpabio’s position had been that of support for zoning. And so from the creeks of Eastern Obolo to the plains of Okobo, the Governor told his people in Eket Senatorial District that he as a product of zoning will stand by zoning. He even went a step further to say that the people of the district must however unite in one voice and one mind to bring out a credible candidate with proven credentials to sustain on the transformational agenda of his administration. While addressing participants at the hearing on the review of the 1999 Constitution held at the Civil Service Auditorium in Uyo, Governor Godswill Akpabio has called on people of the state to support the introduction of zoning in the Nigerian Constitution as according to him, zoning and power rotation would help protect the minority. He informed the people that his emergence as governor of Akwa Ibom State was as a result of zoning arrangement. He also called for fiscal federalism and announced that a town hall meeting involving all stakeholders in Akwa Ibom State is to hold in each of the three Senatorial Districts in the state.
Governor Akpabio remarked “A town hall meeting would soon hold on scheduled dates yet to announced to afford Akwa Ibom people in different Senatorial Districts comprising Uyo, Ikot Ekpene and Eket to present their problems and give input on the way forward for a perfect administration.” But close observers were quick to spot the contradictions in his position. Earlier on May 29, 2012, the governor in a live television interview to mark that year’s democracy day said that it was only his Senatorial District (Ikot Ekpene) that should be excused from participating in the 2015 governorship elections. He went further to say that just as was done in 2006, the people of the state would go into prayers and ask God to give direction as to how to select the governor who would continue on the path of development going on in the state. He said that as God allowed His will to be done then, He would do the same in 2015.
This smack of inconsistency threw itself open again recently when Akpabio had a parley with journalists in the state. Amidst tension and agitation over zoning and the governor’s position, answering a reporter’s question at the press briefing, who had asked the governor to react on whether he was a product of zoning and if he was willing to support zoning, the governor, after dwelling extensively on the various attempts at reconciling him and his predecessor, said jokingly, “You want me to make a political statement here? You won’t catch me” However during the town hall meeting to mark the end of the good governance tour in the State, Governor Akpabio stunned everyone while answering questions on zoning and his successor. He denied being a product of zoning, and said that he was a product of the collective prayers of the people.
At the moment, the supporters of Umana’s 2015 governorship ambition are quick to point out that there has never been zoning in the State, and that there had never been a time people from other senatorial districts were refused opportunity to contest. However they forget to add that former Governor Attah clearly declared his stand to support zoning, which was in consonance with the agreement of the PDP caucus members in the State. As a result of this, there was no government official from National/State Assembly members to State Exco members who flouted that directive. And as a result it was only few discontented people from the unfavoured zones that came into the ring and so were not taken seriously. In 2007, it was only Chief Okon Inwang from Uyo Senatorial District that contested in the primaries while others who did same used other platforms like Sam Ewang and James Iniama used other political parties for their futile exercise. In 1999, the PDP Caucus had to compel the more influential Benjamin Okoko to step down for Obong Attah, in support of zoning.
The people of Eket Senatorial District have not wavered in their loyalty to Governor Akpabio, and would only be shocked if the governor fails to reciprocate. For example, the PDP under the leadership of Chief Akpabio won convincingly at the last general elections, at all levels in the senatorial district. Also, the area holds the ace in terms of the natural wealth which makes Akwa Ibom the highest producer of crude oil in Nigeria.
Stakeholders in the area have persistently said that whether in the military times or the civilian dispensation, no indigene of the district has ever been appointed or elected governor since the creation of the state in 1987. Back at the Banquet Hall of Government House venue of the town hall meeting of the good governance team, Akpabio left people wondering how to trust him, when he said in one breadth that he was not a product of zoning, yet said in another breadth that he personally used his hand to make Dr. Aloysius Etok a Senator in favour of zoning.
For indigenes of Eket Senatorial District in Akwa Ibom State, 2015 is a date with history. They believe the governorship race, which has attracted wide interests and ripples, offers the best opportunity for power shift. Since the state was created in 1987, no indigene of the zone has governed the oil-rich state. Yet, the zone has the highest concentration of oil wells.
But the people of Uyo are also interested in the slot. Therefore, in 2015, the battle is between Uyo and Eket.
The first civilian governor, the late Obong Akpan Isemin, won the race on the platform of the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1991. He was from the Uyo Senatorial District. But he did not last as the military took over power in 1993.
In 1999, Obong Victor Attah, also from the Uyo Senatorial District, mounted the saddle. He served for two terms and handed over to the incumbent, Godswill Akpabio, who is the first governor from Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District.
The strict adherence to zoning in the state since its creation, though unwritten, spurred the indigenes of Eket District to believe it is their turn. They believe that power shift will be in the interest of fairness and equity, since they supported former occupants of the office from other districts.
Eket’s leading lights have been campaigning for zoning of the governorship slot. They argue that it will give them a sense of belonging and engender peaceful coexistence. They allude to the observance of zoning in nearly all the states of the federation, especially at the national level.
In another development, Anny Asikpo, a Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) senatorial aspirant in the 2011 elections, is an indigene of Ikot Ekpene in Ikot Ekpene Senatorial District. But he supports the campaign for Eket District to produce the next governor. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain said: “As far as I am concerned and as far as honest and sincere people of Akwa Ibom state are concerned, the issue of zoning of the governorship seat to Eket Senatorial District in 2015 should not be a matter of debate, since what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.”
Former Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Ita Ewa also believes it is the turn of Eket to produce the governor. He said: “The state is divided into three geo-political zones and, if the other two have taken their turns, then, the turn of Eket Senatorial District in 2015 cannot be compromised.”
He justified the position of the zone, especially in the face of the poor environmental conditions faced by the people while their natural wealth is being destroyed by the activities of multinational oil companies.
Governor Godswill Akpabio has come out publicly to declare support for the bid of Eket Senatorial District to produce his successor. Akpabio is believed to have transformed the state, since he came to the office in 2007.
Boisterous and daring, he rides on the crest of huge achievements, making him the indisputable power broker in the state. His free education policy and building of infrastructure, such as underground drainage, an electronic library, a brand new four-star hotel, a new Government House and offices, impressive road network across Uyo, the state capital, have consolidated his grip on the power structure.
But All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftains, led by Senator John Akpanudoedehe, are ready to challenge Akpabio to a duel.
The governor has said that he will hand over to a PDP successor. But, to the APC, this is wishful thinking. There are unconfirmed reports that Akpabio sacked the erstwhile Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umana Okon Umana, to pave the way for the emergence of an anointed candidate from the Eket district.
There are rumbles around government circles that Akpabio’s support for Eket and the sack of Umana have effectively put paid to the ambition of his aides outside the zone to contest the governorship. Umana, many believe, was sacked for nursing a governorship ambition. The former SSG from Uyo Senatorial District, which has the highest population in the state, is wealthy and influential.
His critics say it would be absolutely impossible for Akpabio to teleguide a governor like Umana, considering his immense wealth and independent mind. The governor moved against the former SSG to clip his wings and clear the coast for a candidate from Eket. Who that candidate will be, for now, remains Akpabio’s joker
Everybody will agree with me that whosoever win the State PDP gubernatorial primary will surely be the next governor of the land of promise. Gov. Godwill Akpabio through his voice and the body language has showed clearly that he will be handing over power to Eket Senatorial District of Ibibio and he will use his influence to ensure effective and save delivery of his anointed candidate which as at now only known to God and him alone. Many political observers opine that the pendulum can swing on the resigned deputy governor, Nsima Ekere who voluntarily resigned with a reason best known to him alone.
Consequentially, Gov. Godswill Akpabio has not only unite the entire Akwa Ibom state as one indivisible family but also carrying every senatorial district along for the betterment of a purposeful Uncommon transformation agenda. With this mighty act, the amiable governor has tendered the practical means of achieving dividend of democracy and to alleviate the post-election violence which normally erupt from the loser side, but with this constituency briefing everyone have the means of expressing his view on satisfaction and dissatisfaction pertaining to the governing of the state.
As the battle for the 2015 governorship gathers momentum, the God of justice might just be the only source of reprieve to the worried indigenes from the coastal plains of Akwa Ibom South, otherwise called Eket Senatorial District, some strong PDP stakeholders were of the opinion that “Anyone who want Equity should come with clean hands”.
I raise my case!
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