2027: Why Ancestors Are Against You, Respect Zoning – Ex-Reps Candidate, Aliuna Tells Nwifuru’s Opponents

By Godwin Okeh

The political history of Ebonyi State since its creation in 1996 by the military administration of the late General Sani Abacha has been shaped by an unwritten but widely respected political understanding: rotational governorship among the three senatorial zones.

Beyond being a political arrangement, the principle has served as an instrument for promoting equity, peaceful coexistence, political stability and a sense of belonging among the people of Ebonyi North, Central and South.

For nearly three decades, the founding fathers and successive political leaders have sustained this arrangement, recognizing that equitable distribution of political power is essential to the unity and collective progress of the state. 

The understanding has helped moderate political tensions and encouraged peaceful transitions from one administration to another. Each of the three senatorial zones has enjoyed an opportunity to produce the governor for eight years.

The emergence of Senator Sam Egwu, from Ebonyi North, as the first civilian governor in 1999, marked the beginning of this political understanding. After his first tenure, Egwu secured a second term in 2003, with broad political support across the state. 

The willingness of political stakeholders to accommodate continuity reinforced the principle that governance should not become a perpetual battlefield for competing political interests.

Similarly, the emergence of Chief Martin Elechi from Ebonyi Central in 2007 followed a competitive political process involving several prominent aspirants, including Julius Ucha of the ANPP, Frank Ogbueghu of APGA and other candidates. 

The eventual transition demonstrated the importance of accepting political outcomes and placing the stability of the state above individual ambitions. Elechi subsequently completed eight years in office.

In 2015, David Umahi emerged from Ebonyi South after another competitive governorship election involving political opponents, including Edward Nkwegu, Julius Ucha and Anthony Agbo. 

His emergence further demonstrated the practical application of the rotational understanding, as the South took its turn and subsequently completed its eight-year tenure.

Today, with Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru occupying the governorship on the platform of Ebonyi North, supporters of the rotational arrangement argue that the same political consideration should apply. 

They maintain that allowing him to complete two terms would preserve the historical sequence established by the founding fathers and prevent unnecessary disruption of the state’s political equilibrium. 

The argument is that what was considered appropriate for previous governors should not become controversial under the present administration.

It is against this background that former House of Representatives candidate for Ebonyi Ohaukwu Federal Constituency, Aliuna Godwin, has called on political actors and governorship aspirants opposing Nwifuru’s re-election to reconsider their positions in the overall interest of the state. 

Aliuna argues that political ambition should not be pursued at the expense of a rotational arrangement that has helped maintain peace and balance among the three senatorial zones.

According to him, those seeking to challenge the governor should recognise the broader implications of their political activities and consider supporting continuity rather than creating avoidable divisions. 

He believes that Nwifuru’s administration deserves the opportunity to consolidate its development agenda, particularly in view of the projects and policies initiated since he assumed office in May 2023.

Indeed, Nwifuru’s administration has anchored its development philosophy on the People’s Charter of Needs, with emphasis on infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, industrialisation and human capital development. 

The policy is designed to address the practical concerns of ordinary citizens while accelerating the state’s economic transformation.

In infrastructure, the administration has reported the completion of more than 1,000 kilometres of roads across the state’s 13 local government areas, alongside a policy of constructing two-kilometre roads in communities. Major projects, including the VANCO Junction Flyover and Tunnel, 

Nwofe and Nwezenyi Flyovers, as well as the Iziogo Tunnel and Overpass, have become prominent features of its urban renewal and road development agenda. These investments are expected to improve transportation, facilitate commercial activities and strengthen connectivity between communities.

Education is another major pillar of the administration’s development agenda. The construction of model schools across the 13 local government areas, alongside the award of more than 1,000 local and overseas scholarships, reflects an effort to expand access to quality education and prepare young people for emerging opportunities. 

The establishment of specialised institutions, including Ebonyi State University of Information and Communication Technology and the University of Aeronautics and Aerospace Engineering, also demonstrates the ambition to position Ebonyi as a destination for specialised education, innovation and technological advancement.

In healthcare, the administration has pursued the upgrading of medical facilities, recruitment of healthcare personnel, procurement of modern equipment and expansion of health insurance coverage. 

The free maternal healthcare initiative under the BERWO programme championed by the governor’s wife is also designed to improve access to maternal services and reduce the financial burden on vulnerable families. 

These interventions are particularly important in communities where access to affordable and quality healthcare remains a major concern.

Agriculture, which remains central to the livelihoods of many Ebonyi residents, has equally received attention through mechanisation, distribution of fertilisers and other farm inputs, improved livestock facilities and efforts to revive the Nkaliki Hatchery. 

The development of a major feed mill is another initiative expected to strengthen livestock production and support the agricultural value chain.

 If sustained, these investments could improve food production, create rural employment and increase farmers’ earnings.

Perhaps one of the most significant aspects of Nwifuru’s development agenda is the emphasis on industrialisation. 

The Ebonyi Industrial City at Ezzangbo, Abakaliki Cement Company at Nkalagu, Fertiliser Blending Plant at Onuebonyi, Building Materials Industry at Ezzangbo and Waste-to-Wealth Plant at Umuoghara represent efforts to diversify the state’s economy. 

These investments, if effectively managed and sustained, could attract private capital, expand employment opportunities, stimulate local production and reduce dependence on government employment.

Beyond physical infrastructure and economic investments, Aliuna also draws attention to the administration’s worker-friendly policies, particularly the payment of outstanding pension and gratuity obligations dating back to 1996. 

The government’s empowerment initiatives and other welfare programmes are equally presented as evidence of its commitment to improving citizens’ living conditions. 

For supporters, these interventions strengthen the argument that Nwifuru’s administration deserves an opportunity to consolidate its achievements.

However, the case for re-election should not rest exclusively on political zoning or the historical entitlement of a particular senatorial district. It must equally be supported by measurable performance, accountability, responsible leadership and the willingness to address areas where citizens expect greater results. 

The rotational governorship arrangement should be preserved through democratic persuasion, peaceful political participation and respect for the constitutional right of every qualified citizen to contest an election.

For Aliuna and other supporters of the governor, the message ahead of 2027 is that Ebonyi should not sacrifice the political stability achieved through decades of mutual accommodation on the altar of individual ambition. 

They believe that Nwifuru’s administration should be allowed to consolidate its development programmes and complete the eight-year opportunity historically enjoyed by previous governors. 

Ultimately, the 2027 election will provide the electorate with an opportunity to assess his performance and determine whether continuity represents the best option for the state. 

For Ebonyi, the greater responsibility is to preserve unity, strengthen democratic institutions and build a prosperous future for generations to come.