Former Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s vice presidential candidate in the last election, has clarified that he neither introduced nor contemplated introducing zoning in the politics of the state.
In a statement yesterday, Val Obienyem, Obi’s media aide, admitted that the former governor single handedly insisted that his successor should hail from Anambra North against even the position of his party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in 2013.
However, he said that Obi acted more in the spirit of justice and equity rather than a blind entrenchment of zoning formula at the expense of competence and capacity.
“He insisted that the governorship candidate should go to Anambra North since they were, at that time, the only zone yet to produce a Governor,” Obienyem said.
Besides, the ex-governor’s aide said it was more of Obi trying to achieve balance of representation to avoid what was clearly unjust and capable of snowballing into crisis for the state.
“If at any time the state wants rotation or any form of political arrangement, it would not be the imposition of one man because if allowed to stand, history may interpret such as a predisposition of Obi to autocracy.
“In a democracy, decisions are by consensus and not a one-man-show,” Obienyem observed.
Obienyem condemned the reference to Obi by some people whenever divisive issues come up, saying “if they are looking for noble actions of Obi to commend and emulate, they are legion.
“They should start by imbibing his spirit of hard work and resourcefulness that made Anambra a reference point during his tenure.
“They should emulate his insistence on saving for the state even at a time the country was undergoing its worst economic crisis that enabled him to save over N75 billion for the State.
“They should imbibe his support to education and other exploits that made Anambra to be rated as the best in road construction and financial management under him. These are desiderata for the growth and development of our dear state,” he concluded.
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