As preparations for 2015 governorship race in Ebonyi State picks up, Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu, reports that the search for flag bearers is anchored on the battle of the blocs.
As 2015 hopefuls for Ebonyi State’s governorship seat put finishing touches to their preparations, it seems the intrigues are now primarily narrowed to the issue of the bloc that should produce the next governor.
The state is divided into three 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, among others.
So, the struggle is primarily between the north and the southern part of Ebonyi State.
In fact, the bloc struggle within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as it concerns Governor Martin Elechi’s successor, is not entirely new. It dates back to the very day he became the governor.
Soon after he was elected the second governor of the state, Elechi, at the Women Development Centre, (WDC), Abakaliki, announced that he would hand over power to the people of the South, which comprises Afikpo,Ohaozara and other clans that make up the state
Ironically, that announcement, instead of easing political tension, triggered off the bloc struggle in the state, as desperate politicians in the state, especially within Elechi’s cabinet, started bickering.
The Nation’s investigation shows that the bickering became even more audible among hugely empowered aides of Governor Elechi from Abakaliki area and among his in-laws, the Izzi Nnodo people.
So, a source who spoke to us during the week said the most potent challenges any of the aspirants must tackle include “the deep-rooted grudge by the southern bloc vis-a-vis the claims by the Abakaliki bloc.”
We gathered that this is even more so in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where Elechi has openly pledged to abide by the party’s rotational policy and allow the southern senatorial zone to produce the party’s candidate.
A top government official in the state, who confirmed the governor’s insistence on giving the ticket to the south, said, “The governor and the party are concerned with equity. Although the PDP is not the only party in the race, we are being guided by the constitution of the party. Check Article 12 of our constitution and you will find out that the rotation of power is enshrined and embedded there. Besides the position of the law, we are convinced that the good people of Ebonyi State have conscience, that is why I think we will succeed in appealing to the consciences of the people to insist on equitable distribution and evolution of power. If this is done, power will rotate across the three senatorial zones in the state at the right time.
“As you are aware, the North and the Central zones have taken their turns, remaining the South. So, our leader, the governor, and the PDP are saying that equity demands that power moves to the South,” the source said.
Such position is based on the argument that since the creation of Ebonyi State in 1996 by the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha, the Southern senatorial zone is yet to produce an elected governor.
So, aspirants and political lords from the area are insisting that no other factor must determine Elechi’s successor than the rotation policy which favours the south and today their claim has received added boost in public support given by the outgoing governor.
But even if the governor is to ensure the zone gets the PDP ticket, it will not be the end of the political battle.
This is because the current political development in the state, especially the growing influence of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), and the political rivalry among the governor’s henchmen have made other factors to become so critical that no one seems certain again who would get PDP ticket for 2015 election. Such factors include but not limited to:
The Izza’s majority factor:
The Izza has large population that spreads across the entire 13 local government areas. In the last general election, their population advantage manifested clearly. Today, aspirants from that bloc are threatening to take advantage of their population once again, arguing that the south has always participated in all elections and so maintaining that the argument of zoning should be discountenanced since it has never been strictly implemented in Ebonyi politics.
Among political heavyweights (both progressives and the PDP) from Ezze Ezekuna clan include Senator Julius Ucha and Senator Paulinus Igwe Nwagu. It is said the clan has strong politicians and influential elements who can stand and make use of the numerical strength of Ezza nation to win votes for any candidate of their choice.
The Izzi challenge:
Although the Izzi clan do not have the population advantage of the Izza, insiders said they have become a major and powerful bloc “because the Elechi’s administration has empowered many of their politicians, who are now powerful enough to make serious impact in the election campaign process. Governor Elechi is a son-in-law of the Izzi clan and there are allegations that his in-laws, who benefitted tremendously from his government, may be gearing up to take the seat in 2015, notwithstanding Elechi’s handover plans and his talk about equity.
Influential politicians from Izzi, according to a source, include Senator Chris Nwankwo, representing Ebonyi North, Edwin Nkwagu (EDON), Dr. Sunday Nwangele, Commissioner for Health in Elechi’s administration.
Power struggle among Elechi’s henchmen
Aside bloc battles, another major complication in the preparation for Elechi’s successor, especially in the PDP, is the power struggle among Elechi’s henchmen.
An insider said many of Elechi’s aides and associates are angry because of the speculation that Elechi’s hidden game plan is to install as his successor, his brother-in-law, Senator Chris Nwankwo, who is the current Senator representing Ebonyi North. The allegation is that if this plot works out, former state governor, Chief Sam Egwu, will take Nwankwo’s senatorial seat. Though Elechi had denied this allegation on many occasions, the allegation has refused to die down.
So, most of the intrigues within the PDP ahead of 2015 are intricately associated to this alleged plot. For example, when the news of the plot to remove Dave Umahi as deputy governor broke, it was linked to this alleged secret plot. When Valentine Okike, an alleged loyalist of Umahi, was impeached as deputy speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, it was also traced to the same plot.
Explaining the political intrigues, an aide to a top aspirant for the PDP ticket, who is from the southern zone, lamented.“Everybody knows it is the turn of the south, but the battles against Chief Dave confirm that we are not all sincere. They are fighting Dave to divide and weaken the south because they know 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 the spirit of the late Akanu Ibiam,” the source said.
The Anyim factor:
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, understandably weilds enormous influence in the politics of Ebonyi State. So, before the final concessions would be made, said our source, he, Elechi, Egwu and other power brokers in the PDP will have to agree.
So, for the ruling PDP in Ebonyi, the game is heating up by the day and their lot is not made simple by the obvious clout of the APC in the state today.
