JUDE OWUAMANAM writes that as the 2015 elections draw near, politicians are clamouring for zoning as the basis of selecting candidates
With few months to primary elections, politicians across political parties in Benue, Plateau and Taraba states are agitating for positions to be zoned to their respective areas. In these states, the zoning drumbeat is loudest with regards to governorship positions. Zones that have not produced governors in recent and current democratic dispensations are hoping to do so via the zoning procedure.
In Benue, where there are two major tribes — the Tivs and the Idoma — the clamour for power shift is gaining ground and the advocates for it crying out loud. The state is geopolitically divided into three zones: Benue North East (Zone A), Benue North West (Zone B) and Benue South (Zone C), with A and B dominated by the Tivs while C is the traditional home of the Idoma minority. The battle is over who takes the seat of power from Governor Gabriel Suswam in 2015. The minority (Idoma) claims it has not produced a governor since the creation of the ‘Food Basket’ state in 1976, the Tiv tribe has produced four democratically-elected governors in persons of the late Chief Aper Aku, late Rev Fr. Moses Adasu, Sen. George Akume and the incumbent Gabriel Suswam.
While the Tiv people occupied governorship positions, the Idoma produced deputy governors, secretaries to state government and some other key positions.
Currently, the South is arguing that for equity, justice and fairness, it should produce the next governor. Observers however say aspirants from the zone do not seem to have put their acts together to present a common candidate, as it appears to be an open contest for now. Among the leading contenders from this zone are the incumbent deputy governor, Steve Lawani; immediate past Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre in the state, Dr. Matthias Oyigeya; a former minister of state, Niger Delta, Sam Odey, and Mr. Paul Harris Ogbole.
These contenders are being challenged by a number of candidates from the Tiv block of Masev, Iharev, Nongov Development Association, popularly called MINDA, who do not believe in power shift. They include the Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who is from Guma; member of the House of Representatives from Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Emmanuel Jiopme (Guma); former Vice Chancellor, Caritas University, Abuja, Prof David Ker (Gwer); member, Revenue Mobilsation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Chief Simon Aondona (Gwer West); former Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Terhemen Tarzoor (Makurdi); former commissioners, Dr. Eugene Alyegba (Gwer West), and Bar Alex Adum), as well as Andy Uwouku, Engr Felix Atume, among others.
Oyigeya, who is a strong advocate of power shift, said the Idoma people were leaning on the understanding of the other zones. According to him, every democratically-elected governor of the state has always had the support of the zone. He said, “Zone C people have been the cornerstone; they have always determined who won elections in the past and the most striking one was the 2011 election. So, zone C should be considered because of its strategic importance in deciding who wins elections in the state.”
While pleading with the Peoples Democratic Party to zone the governorship to Zone C, Oyigeya said, “The two zones have greater majority but we are operating under a party that believes in fairness. The PDP has its manifesto and it is very clear that the party operates on transparency, equity, fairness and justice. And if that is the case, we have to believe that it is practised as stated. Since we have three zones in the state, zone A has seven local government areas; zone B has seven and zone C nine. Going by the equity principles, justice and fairness, the PDP, as a party, should zone the slot to Zone C.”
In Plateau, it is a potpourri of contestants who are only waiting for the whistle from Governor Jonah Jang before formally joining the fray. In the state, the drum of power shift is also loud, with the southern zone in the fore front. The power equation since 1979 had the southern zone producing Solomon Lar as the first civilian governor of the state. His tenure was interrupted by a military coup in 1983. In 1992, another son of the southern zone, Sir Fidelis Tapgun, held sway under the the military dictator, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida’s short term transition programme. With the dawn of the new democratic dispensation in 1999, the central zone produced Joshua Dariye (1999 to 2007) and the northern zone produced Jonah Jang (2007 to present.) The argument from the south is that 2015 should be an opportunity for them to be compensated. Incidentally, the zone has the highest number of aspirants. Those whose names were being touted include the current deputy governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan from Qua’an Pan; former Governor Fidelis Tapgun from Shendam; Senator Victor Lar; Prof. Longmas Wapmuk; former lawmakers, Cosmas Niangwan and George Daika; present Chairman, Shendam Local Government Area, Kemi Nshe, and his counterpart from Mikang, Mr. Daniel Kungmi; a former director in the Federal Capital Development Authority, Mr. Jimmy Cheto, and Mr. Nandong Esso.
From the central zone, where the past governor came from, a sizeable number of aspirants have emerged, though the other zones are telling them to jettison their aspirations for now. The list includes former Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Sunny Tyoden; former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Jidauna Dimka; former Police Commissioner, Hezekiah Dimka; AVM Bala Danbaba(retd); the state Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Haruna Dabin; Mr. Jethro Akun; and ex-lawmaker, Bishop Musa Labar.
From the northern zone, where the incumbent governor hails from, many names have emerged. They include the permanent secretary in charge of security, Mr. Istifanus Gyang, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Edward Pwajok; incumbent senator representing Northern zone, Mr. Gyang Pwajok, and a cleric, Rev. Chris Bature.
For Plateau, the argument of power shift is going to play an important role in whoever emerges as the candidate of the ruling party.
Dabin, while puncturing the zoning arrangement, said, “Every indigene of Plateau has the right to contest; we have never really had any zoning arrangement. If the south says it is their turn, on what basis are they laying the claim because in all the election, the south had always presented candidates. If in 2007, they had conceded to the north, we can then consider their argument. But as you know, more candidates came out from the southern zone than any other zone in the state.”
The arguments in Plateau are similar to that in Taraba State, where the plane crash that involved the state Governor, Mr. Danbaba Suntai, affected the power equation. The power structure since 1999 had seen Governor Jolly Nyame from the northern zone occupying the governorship position for eight years. In 2007, Suntai from the central zone ascended the seat with an understanding that someone from the southern zone would succeed him. However, with Suntai out of the way, the ascendancy of his deputy, Garba Umar, appears to have altered the zoning arrangement. Though the central zone appears to be obeying the principle of zoning, as no candidate has shown interest in the race, the argument of the north is that there was no zoning arrangement existing in principle.
Currently, four aspirants have emerged from the southern zone and two from the north. From the south are a brother to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, David Kente; senator representing Taraba South, Mr. Emmanuel Bwacha; Mr. Joel Danlami Ikenya and Col. Agbu Kefas (retd). The north has the acting governor and the only female aspirant, Aisha Alhassan
Speaking on the development, the Coordinator, Southern Taraba Democrats, Ibrahaim David, said, “The central zone in 2015 would have completed two terms of eight years and the southern zone has never produced a governor, and so, it should be the turn of the zone.”
But the Special Adviser on Media to Umar, Mr. Aaron Artimas, said there had never been any zoning arrangement in principle.
He said, “In 2007, when Nyame was going, Danladi Baidoo, emerged as the candidate of PDP and he was from the northern zone. And this was after everybody had subjected themselves to contest, after that he was disqualified.
“After he was disqualified, Nyame’s loyalists sat down to submit a fresh name and nominated Suntai, who was not in the race and he is from the central zone. There was never any argument as everybody accepted his candidature; the argument then was not that another person from the North should replace him. The party just told the candidates to nominate one person.
“With what the people are saying, there was never a time that Suntai consciously promised to hand over to anybody from the south or elsewhere.”
As the situation is in the states, political pundits are of the view that how far each of the sides would be able to push arguments would depend largely on the spirit of give and take and not on any laid down principles.
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