Former Ebonyi Information Commissioner cites zoning, equity and fairness as essential to sustaining peace and political stability in the state.
Former Ebonyi State Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, has explained why Chief Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate from Ebonyi South, should withdraw from the 2027 governorship race, while reaffirming his support for Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s second-term ambition.
Orji said Odii’s withdrawal would demonstrate respect for the zoning arrangement he believes is necessary to sustain political stability, equity and peaceful coexistence among Ebonyi State’s three senatorial zones.
He made the position known while reacting to the outcome of the Ebonyi State Leaders and Stakeholders Political Summit held on October 20, 2026, at the Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki, where political leaders and stakeholders deliberated on an orderly and peaceful political transition in the state.
The former commissioner commended the stakeholders for promoting justice, fairness and political inclusion, describing zoning as a critical mechanism for building trust and ensuring that every senatorial zone has a sense of belonging in the state's leadership.
According to him, the identity of Ebonyi as the “Salt of the Nation” must be reflected in practical commitments to equity, fairness and mutual respect rather than remain a mere slogan.
“The mantra ‘Salt of the Nation’ is not just a slogan. It is a mandate. And it finds its true meaning in equity, justice and fairness,” Orji said.
Orji argued that political ambition should not supersede the collective interest of the state, particularly the need to preserve the understanding surrounding the rotation of the governorship among Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South senatorial zones.
He appealed to Odii to reconsider his ambition in the interest of peace and political harmony, maintaining that respect for an equitable power-sharing arrangement would strengthen confidence among the state's political blocs.
The former commissioner warned that disregard for zoning could generate mistrust and tensions capable of undermining the unity and stability Ebonyi has sought to maintain since its creation.
He urged political leaders and residents who support zoning to defend the principle through peaceful engagement and responsible political conduct.
However, Orji's call for Odii to withdraw represents his personal political position and should not be construed as evidence that the PDP candidate has agreed to step aside or that the summit formally directed him to withdraw.
To support his argument, Orji highlighted the governorship succession pattern in Ebonyi State since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
He noted that former Governor Sam Egwu, from Ebonyi North, governed the state from 1999 to 2007, followed by former Governor Martin Elechi of Ebonyi Central, who served from 2007 to 2015.
Former Governor David Umahi, from Ebonyi South, subsequently governed the state from 2015 to 2023, before the emergence of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, who hails from Ebonyi North.
Orji maintained that the current 2023–2031 tenure cycle would enable Ebonyi North to complete eight years in office before the governorship rotates to Ebonyi Central and subsequently Ebonyi South.
He described the arrangement as a means of promoting political balance and preventing any senatorial zone from feeling excluded from the highest political office in the state.
“Justice to all is the taste that salt gives. Justice is what makes leadership acceptable to all zones,” he said.
According to him, zoning provides a framework for managing political competition while preserving the confidence and cooperation required for sustainable development.
Orji also declared support for Governor Nwifuru's re-election bid, arguing that a second term would enable the incumbent governor to complete the current eight-year governorship cycle allocated to Ebonyi North under the rotation arrangement he advocates.
He cited the governor's leadership approach and the implementation of the administration's People's Charter of Needs as reasons for supporting the continuation of his government.
The former commissioner said sustained implementation of the administration's development agenda, particularly its emphasis on grassroots development and inclusive governance, would provide an opportunity to consolidate ongoing efforts across the state.
He further argued that completing the current tenure cycle would help preserve the zoning understanding and reduce uncertainty surrounding future political succession.
For Orji, the issue goes beyond the ambition of individual politicians to encompass the broader question of fairness among the state's three senatorial zones.
Orji called on political leaders, stakeholders and residents to protect what he described as a charter of peace built on equity, justice, fairness and mutual respect.
Using the analogy of a three-legged structure, he said political stability depended on maintaining a balance among Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South.
“If one leg is longer than the other two, the state will fall,” he said, stressing that no zone should dominate the governorship arrangement at the expense of the others.
He maintained that an agreed rotation system, if respected by political actors, could help reduce unnecessary rivalry and strengthen peaceful transitions between administrations.
Orji also said Ebonyi's experience could offer lessons for Nigeria on managing political diversity and competing regional interests through dialogue and mutually accepted arrangements.
“As the Salt of the Nation, we must not lose our saltiness. If we abandon equity in zoning, with what shall Nigeria be seasoned? Our orderly and peaceful transition is our witness to Nigeria that unity is possible,” he said.
He concluded by urging political actors to place the long-term peace, unity and development of Ebonyi State above personal ambition as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Post a Comment