Notwithstanding that, in Ebonyi State, since the return of this current democracy in 1999, the governorship position has been on rotational circle among the three Senatorial District of the State.
Between 1999 to 2007 (8 years/2 tenures), Ebonyi North Senatorial District took the lead of the State's number one seat with Ohaukwu local government area producing the first democratically elected governor in the person of Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu. Between 2007 to 2015 (8 years/2 tenures), was the turn of Ebonyi Central Senatorial District as Ikwo local government area produced the second democratically elected governor in the person of Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi. Ebonyi South Senatorial District took her slot between 2015 to 2023 (8 years/2 tenures), as Ohaozara local government area produced the third democratically elected governor in the person of Engr. David Nweze Umahi.
It was a heated debate in 2023 elections about which zone should the governorship position zoned to since the three zones had taken their shares of eight years (two tenures) slots but, fortunately to some and unfortunately to others, Ebonyi North Senatorial District who started it in 1999 was favoured again, which Izzi local government area was availed the opportunity to produce the current governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
The argument on the lips of most Ebonyians currently as 2027 elections approaches remain the issue of Gov. Nwifuru completing his eight years in office by returning him in the forthcoming elections as other past governors were returned for second tenures. To this end, many based their arguments on equity whereas, others based theirs on achievements of the governor in the past two years of his administration.
Coming to the side of equity, though democracy is not a government of the zoning by the zoning and for the zoning, which I strongly believed even before last 2023 elections but the record has been made manifest as Ebonyians insisted on this zoning arrangement in the name of equity when they returned the governorship slot to Ebonyi North Senatorial District. On this particular note, some stakeholders opined it unfair if Izzi local government area is denied opportunity of completing its own eight years when Ohaukwu of the same zone and other two Senatorial Districts completed theirs.
On the side of "one good turn deserving another," Gov. Nwifuru has made some impacts in critical areas of governance such as: human capital development; making peace among some warring communities which include; Effium/Ezza-Alioma, Abaomege/Ishinkwo, Amana/Ohankwu, etc; completed and ongoing constructions of 2km roads in all communities of the State; reconstruction of Chuba Okadigbo International Airport's Runway in Onueke; ongoing works at ICT and Aeronautic Universities of Oferekpe and Onueke respectively; ongoing work at Vanco flyover; Ngbo/Nigercem Nkalagu road's construction; youth and women empowerments; water supply within Abakaliki metropolis and other cities of the State; free basic education/scholarships; security of lives and property; reviving health sector of the State; agricultural revolutions ongoing in different farming sectors; among other projects numerous to mention which are ongoing in different parts of the State with some already completed.
Gov. Nwifuru is therefore, encouraged to sustain these legacy works and as well flush out bad eggs, incompetents, hypocrites and sycophants in his government if really this adage of "one good turn deserves another", with the adopted zoning arrangement/equity will see him through 2027.
Moses Nnabuife Nwekwu.
News Manager/Editor (Broadcast Journalist), writes from Enugu.
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