Governor Orji is the only PDP governor in the Southeast that is yet to give an inclination on his succession plans. The challenges before him are many. The option of choosing merit over zoning is turning into an issue.
Weeks to decisive primaries for nomination of candidates into elective office by the two major political parties, the whiff of conspiracy is all over the air.
A number of governors across the country have taken up statesmanlike position to push forward the principle of rotation as canvassed mainly by the constitution and the dominant party in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
It is thus no surprise that in Ebonyi, Governor Martins Elechi, against the consideration of close associates and reportedly even of some family members, has championed the emergence of Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu from Ebonyi South as his successor. In Delta State, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has expressed his desire to handover to someone from Delta North Senatorial zone, the only zone in the state that is yet to produce a governor.
In Plateau, the permutations on zoning remains a mystery and Governor Jonah Jang, a man of prayers is said to have taken up the issue with God in prayers, albeit to no avail.
The zoning permutation in Abia State, however, has taken a life of its own with stakeholders, associates and foes of Governor Theodore Orji taking varying positions on the succession battle.
Despite pressures from interested associates, the governor has been unrelenting in his support of power shift to Ukwa Ngwa area of the state saying at one time that it was a matter of justice.
“No section will be marginalized in Abia. Ukwa/ Ngwa have never been governor, what is wrong in allowing them produce a governor? A lot of people from other zones have come to me to say, I want to be governor and I will tell them straight away this is my stand,” the governor said at one time.
“Equity demands that the right thing should be done. They may hate me but within me, I am convinced that I am doing the right thing. Our party, PDP believes in power rotation and sharing according to political blocs. I want you people to help me, I don’t like if I convince people on this when I come to this zone, I will start having problems. I will not like to have any problem in this zone. What we know is Ukwa/ Ngwa. It is open for you; go and contest. Any person who emerges as the guber candidate of our party from this zone, we are going to support that person,” the governor reiterated.
Among the more formidable aspirants from Ukwa Ngwa are Senator Enyinninya Abaribe, a former deputy governor of the state, the minister of labour and productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, Chief Marc Wabara, Dr. Okeize Ikepazu and Senator Nkechi Nwaogu.
Also in the race from Ukwa Ngwa are Chief Chris Nkwota, Uzo Azubike, Friday Nwosu, Okey Emuchay and Chief Eric Nwakanma.
However, the push for a consensus on an Ukwa/Ngwa successor to the incumbent in Abia has lately turned into a crisis even among the Ukwa/Ngwa fold with the people divided along senatorial zones. The Ukwa/Ngwa people are found in the Central and Southern senatorial zones of the state. Given the earlier advocacy by the governor on power shift to Ukwa/Ngwa it was no surprise that some interested politicians from central and most prominently, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu entered the fray.
Senatorial districts
Senator Nwaogu has been able to mobilise some stakeholders to project zoning as being between the Old Bende and Aba divisions and not along senatorial boundaries. It is an argument that remarkably made the governor to come out to openly state that zoning should be based on senatorial districts. That stance according to sources has led to acrimony between campaign officials of Senator Nwaogu and the governor and it is no surprise that senior administration officials and the Nwaogu campaign now do not see eye to eye.
But even more remarkable is the fact that the failure of the Ukwa Ngwa people to find some sort of harmony on zoning has led to an upsurge of aspirants from outside Ukwa Ngwa land with the emergence of formidable candidates from other parts of the state who are asserting the use of merit above other considerations in the choice of a successor.
Among the heavyweights from outside Ukwa Ngwa that have come into the fray are Chief Uche Ogah, the founder of Masters Energy, Dr. Alex Oti, the managing director of Diamond Bank, two men that are said to be capable of tilting the game especially given the amount of money they can mobilise in the venture.
The emergence of such formidable aspirants from outside Abia South is now raising questions as to the intention of the rich and influential politicians from Abia North and Central who it is being feared may decide to force the governor to abandon zoning for the sake of merit.
The contention by those against zoning is that the state would be the better for it if the best man is picked to push forward the achievements of the outgoing administration and are pressing for an unhindered primaries open to every one.
Interestingly, a number of the stakeholders are said to be close to the governor and could be in position to influence him from within his family.
While the two other PDP governors from the Southeast, Elechi in Ebonyi and Sullivan Chime in Enugu have openly anointed their successors, Governor Orji is apparently still weighing his options and is as such yet to take a decisive step on his successor. But his determination to have a say could not have been better pronounced with the decision to appoint the deputy chief of staff in the Government House, Chief Charles Ogbonnaya to chair the 11 man State Congress Committee which is to guide the election of delegates to produce the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP for Abia State.
At least for now, it is known that Governor Orji would want to have a say, but on who, what and where he pushes the party machine remains a mystery for now.
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