Ahead of the 2015 general elections, Ebonyi State is set on a direction that will determine not only the future of democracy in the state but also stabilise or mar the quest for political equation, as it concerns the three senatorial zones of the state.
With Governor Martin Elechi, leading the war cry for political equality among the three zones of Ebonyi North, South and Central, it is, therefore, going to be a war to enthrone political stability and equality in the state or a return to status quo. The people of the South are crying foul over marginalisation by the two zones.
From the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996 by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, it is on record that the South has not been lucky to taste power, as it concerns the topmost position, which is the governor, though the people of the zone had always contested aggressively with their counterparts from the North and Central zones.
Surprisingly, shortly after he was elected the second governor of the state, Elechi, in a brazen manner at the Women Development Centre, (WDC), Abakaliki, announced his readiness to hand over power to the people of the South without recourse to the doom such could cause to the Abakaliki area, which has been in control of the centre of the state.
His argument, however, was derived from what he said was the fact that the people of the zone had participated equally in the fight for the creation of the state and as one of the surviving founding fathers of the state, it would be not only be in the interest of justice but equity to hand over power to them.
Elechi’s announcement then threw the politicians in the state, even within his cabinet, into bickering but because of the nature and administration of Elechi, nobody dared question his authority or what he believes in, especially when it comes to who becomes what in each local government area.
Many political watchers, including Elechi’s aides from the Abaklaiki area and his in-laws, the Izzi Nnodo, believe that if the man is given free hand to run the affairs of the state, it could be injurious to them.
While the people of Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone are still in the euphoria of the promise made to them by Elechi, the Izzi Nodo people are not relenting on their resolve to take over from him.
The Ezzas, who, in their large numbers, have evolved and tested their strength in the last general election, where they swept across the length and breadth of the state, are also not taking anything to chance as it affects the 2015 governorship election.
With political heavyweights from Ezze Ezekuna clan like Senator Julius Ucha of the Action Congress of Nigeria, (ACN) and Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the clan is indeed endowed with people, who can stand and make use of the numerial strength of Ezza nation scattered all over the 13 local government areas of the state to bring the ambition of the South to naught.
The Izzi clan, to say the least, has been empowered tremendously by their son-in-law, Elechi.
People like Senator Chris Nwankwo, representing Ebonyi North, Edwin Nkwagu (EDON), Dr. Sunday Nwangele, Commissioner for Health in Elechi’s administration, have been tremendously empowered by Elechi to challenge the political strength of Ezza nation represented by Senators Ucha and Igwe Nwagu.
Many have speculated that the game being played by Elechi is to install his brother-in- law, Senator Chris Nwankwo, who is the current Senator, representing Ebonyi North, as his successor. Though Governor Elechi had severally denied the allegations, some believe that he may bow to pressure from his wife to hand over to her elder brother.
As it stands now, there are systematic political landmines being laid by Elechi’s lieutenants, especially in a bid to shove off Elechi’s deputy, Dave Umahi, from getting near the governorship seat.
Most apparent among the moves was the recent impeachment saga in the state House of Assembly on those suspected to be loyal to Dave Umahi and his political ambition. In fact, the action was to tame Umahi and brow beat him to swallow his political ambition ahead of 2015.
“Recently, the Ebonyi State House of Assembly impeached the deputy speaker, Valentine Okike. The reason for the impeachment is not far fetched; it was because they felt he was spying on them, as it concerns the ambition of some powerful political kingmakers in Elechi’s government. Everybody knows that Okike remains Umahi’s boy. He was personally planted in the House by Umahi as one of his boys. So, the impeachment is another attempt to foreclose Umahi’s ambition,” a PDP chieftain, John Nwankpuma, said.
If that is true, according to Nwali Nwali, a political analyst, it is, therefore, becoming clearer that Elechi’s henchmen are not giving anything to chance in frustrating him from giving power to the South, which comprises Afikpo and Ohaozara and other sub-ethnic nationalities that make up the state.
“It is, therefore, clearer now that Dave Umahi is the target of this powerful cabal; the effort is to make him swallow his 2015 governorship ambition. Being the closest person to the state government house from Ebonyi South, the only threat the cabal sees from the zone is Dave and they want to frustrate him.”
“They know what Dave is capable of, and if you allow him get his political permutation and calculation right, I bet you, nobody from the zone can challenge him despite the fact that Afikpo people are saying if power must truly come and remain in the South, it must be given to them to appease spirit of the late Akanu Ibiam,” he said.
Elechi, Egwu’s senatorial ambitions, and Ebonyi South 2015 project
From the foregoing, it is, therefore, not going to be an easy fight between the three senatorial zones in the state, more especially now there is no concrete arrangement or agreement between the stakeholders of the zones to rotate governorship positions.
With the former governor, Dr. Sam Egwu, finding in renewed reconciliation with his estranged successor, Martin Elechi, for possible political anointing to go to the senate to represent Ebonyi North currently being occupied by Elechi’s brother-in-law, the game is becoming clear by the day.
The arrangement is that if Egwu gets the ticket to the senate, having come from the minority of Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu council area, the Izzi people, from Ebonyi and Izzi council areas, will lose the ticket and possibly stick for something higher.
Chris Nwankwo is the brother-in-law to Elechi and is currently occupying the senatorial seat, which the former governor of the state is eying. Some people believe that if the arrangement is to hold water, it would have altered the political equation in the whole state and scattered Elechi’s political structure.
“If Elechi gives Egwu the ticket in 2015, then Egwu, who hails from Ezzamgbo in Ohaukwu Local Government Area, will go to senate. Then Chris Nwankwo, who is Elechi’s brother-in-law will go to where? Let me tell you, it is to show the people the handwriting on the wall. There is no way Izzi will lose senate and allow Ezzamgbo or Ngbo man to get it; it is practically impossible it goes to show that they may have concluded plans to replace their in-law”
“The plan is, therefore, for Izzi to relinquish the senatorial seat to Egwu from the other side and go for something higher, which is governorship. Whoever that is telling you that Elechi is sincere to hand over to the South is deceiving himseLf.”
Also, the senatorial ambition of incumbent Governor Elechi is also another time bomb that will help destabilise and alter the proposed political marriage between Elechi and the South Senatorial Zone because, his intention to represent Ebonyi Central Zone would be counter-productive.
While Senator Igwe Nwagu, who comes from the most populated clan, Ezza, is not giving anything to chance ahead of 2015, Elechi will definitely be going for a broke with not only Senator Nwagu but the whole Ezza nation.
For instance, the current senator, representing Ebonyi Central zone, Igwe Nwagu, hails from Oriuzo in Ezza North Council Area of the state. With the numerical strength of the Ezza nation in Ezza South, Ezza North and Ishielu Council Areas, Elechi, coming from Ikwo local government Area, might not have a good bite.
According to Emeka Ngwuta: “If nothing is done to dissuade both Elechi and Egwu from having interests in the senatorial seats in 2015, everything and the noise that have been in the streets, concerning power going to the South will be fruitless and would be efforts in futility. Because there is no way Elechi can win the senate with only one local government area or how Egwu can win without Izzi people.”
Factors that will determine the next governor
There is, therefore, no gainsaying the fact that the state is clinically divided into three unequal parts with the Abakaliki bloc having two parts and Afikpo bloc having only one. Abakaliki bloc is made up of Ezza Ezekuna nation, Izzi Nnodo, Ikwo Nnoyo and Ngboejiogu as well as Igboasaa.
Afikpo block is made up of Ehugbo, the Afikpos, and Ohaozara. Though the zone is boasting of national figures like the current Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, among others, the zone had so to say been unlucky in terms of governorship position.
The fact that will determine which side the governorship will shift to will be a factual game of numbers among the participating clans. Meanwhile, the Afikpo bloc could benefit from the sharp division and impending disagreement between the two most powerful clans in Abakaliki bloc, the Ezzas and Izzis in 2015.
Mr. Innocent Agha, a lecturer in one of the state-owned higher institutions said, the zone will lie in wait to benefit from the spoils from the North and Central zones in the coming governorship election, adding “there is no way Izzi man will support Ezza man for governorship and Ezza man instead of supporting Izzi will rather support the Afikpo person.”
This sharp division, according to Agha, will be part of the determining factors ahead of 2015 general election in the state as well as the internal wrangling in Izzi Nnodo. He said: “As you are aware, Izzi is not even together, unlike the Ezza nation. In Izzi, you have divisions, even in the families between Umuera and Igboejima clans; they are not together and the division will come to play in any major election in the state. Remember what happened during the 2011 governorship election where a particular clan in Izzi left the fold of PDP and joined Ucha in ANPP,” he said.
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