Adherence to zoning as Soludo most visible achievements in the political space

By Ifeizu Joe

For someone who is a product of zoning, it is not surprising that adherence to zoning can be counted as one of Soludo’s most impactful achievements in the political space.

For one who is not given to a multiplicity of appointments which is now being seen as a way of political compensation to loyalists, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo within his first four years ensured that zoning arrangements stood in the election of contestants into offices in various positions, making the zoning not being limited to the governorship seat of Anambra State alone, but cascaded down to the grassroot.

This may remain a silent achievement, but it tells a lot about the level of decorum and sanity the governor has brought into politics in the state. Soludo himself prides himself  as not being a regular politicians, and is an advocate of politicians having other means of livelihood before taking on it, so it is not a surprise that he has tried in sanitizing the political process in Anambra, cutting away wasteful spending and violence associated with it and others, which make politics the dirty game it is referred as.

That he went further to ensure that zoning trickled down to other positions and not just in governorship position where the seat rotates among the three Senatorial zones, is a testament of his resolve to sanitize the political space.

For example, Soludo in the last Senatorial District election to replace demised Senator Ifeanyi Ubah adopted a conclave election where the aspirants in his party went into to choose among themselves who is most favoured. In doing this; zoning and the needs of the less visible and most marginalized areas of the state were taken into perspective. Also, in the recent primary election of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) for chairmen and councilors of Local Government Areas, Soludo respected the zoning arrangements of various council areas and as the national leader of the APGA, he insisted that the right thing is done. This has cut wasteful spending in politics and brought decorum and orderliness in political processes, while also putting an end to bickerings.

With an arrangement like this, every politically aware person in Anambra is already sure that the next governor after Soludo will come from the Central Senatorial Zone. Many are however advocating already that the zoning arrangement be cascaded down to the grassroot like ensuring that most marginalized or deprived areas be considered for certain positions.

Like in the next governorship contest which goes to Anambra Central, proponents of this are of the view that since the zone is made up of Idemili block, old Njikoka and Awka block, the block that hasn’t had a shot at the office will be considered.

Doing this will be equity, and when it is done, obviously, Awka North and South Federal Constituency should be ready to present a son or daughter of theirs, with impeccable political track record and impeachable credibility that should go for them.