A frontline governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Dr. Chike Obidigbo, has called for the adoption of zoning system in the selection of APC flag bearer as well as the main election for the November 18, 2017 governorship election in the state.

Addressing journalists in Awka, Obidigbo maintained that the zoning system already exists in Nigeria politics due to long history of denial and unfair treatment of weak and minority groups.

He recalled that the zoning principle was adopted as far back as the Second Republic even though it was not clearly promoted like the rotational system.

The businessman and owner of Hardis and Dromedas Cosmetic Company explained that the zoning system gained prominence in the 1994/1995 Constitutional Conference, which adopted in its draft report, the creation of the six geo-political zones for the purpose of rotation of offices.

According to him, the zoning system was emphasised by people of Igbo extraction with late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu drumming up support for them while former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme canvassed for South East states to adopt the zoning process among the Senatorial zones in the interest of equity.

“In the South East geo-political zone, states like Enugu, Abia and Ebonyi have all entrenched zoning; Imo State which truncated its zoning arrangement in 2011 is already addressing the problem.

“In 2013, Anambra State formerly agreed on the zoning arrangement as the best political process to address some political imbalances in the state. Having considered that Anambra South Senatorial zone had produced four Governors while Anambra Central produced two, the stakeholders in the state met and agreed that the next Governor should be zoned to Anambra North. It was that agreement that produced the incumbent APGA government of Chief Willie Obiano from Anamba North.

“As the tenure of the incumbent Governor wounds up, and owing to his poor performance, major stakeholders in the state have continued to insist that zoning which started in 2013 must be sustained,” Obidigbo stated.

The businessman who was adopted by former Governor Peter Obi as his successor added that stakeholders in the state have unanimously agreed that Anambra North should be supported to complete their remaining four years tenure.

The stakeholders and groups in support of the zoning process include Anambra Union, a group made up of seasoned politicians, retired public officials, diplomats and members of the academia.

The group led by the former Minister of Health, Prof. A. B.C Nwosu, had at a meeting held at Nnewi recently called on the people of Anambra State to stand in solidarity with Anambra North Senatorial zone to ensure that they serve out their remaining four years in the spirit of equity and fairness.

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