Before the term “zoning”, was brought into the political lexicon, zoning simply means a technique for urban planning in which a municipal or other levels of government splits the land into sections called zones, each of which has a unique set of rules for new construction.
But when it comes to party politics, it could be seen as a political arrangement that tend to make sure that no constituency is excluded from any political party’s program.
Thus, zoning is an arrangement where all the zones in a political party agree on how they will share power with one another. The order can be North and South.
As we countdown to the forthcoming September, 2024, Awgu Local Government Council elections, it is clear that there are very significant considerations in existing zoning arrangement between Awgu North and South respectively.
The Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in Awgu Local Government Council has an existing political understanding what zoning arrangement entails, which have helped the party to maintain harmony and adminstrative inclusiveness from different political background within the party [PDP).
To a reasonable degree, zoning has been omnipotent in genes of Awgu politics right from the 1999, till day. Zoning is an existing political practice in Enugu State under the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], and Awgu North and South are not excluded.
The principle of zoning is designed to ensure that neither the Awgu North nor the Awgu South of the State is ever permanently excluded from power and that no one constituency is seen to monopolize power. The concept of zoning was initially introduced and the key factor which necessitated zoning was the need to ease the political tension between the Awgu North and South.
Though, the principle was widely supported and accepted by many party fateful, for administrative convenience, raging from the former Local Chairmen and other political stakeholders. The proposal was greeted with mental continuity in favour of a more straightforward technique of rotating the executive between the Awgu North and South. This division was particularly selected to reflect the constituencies cleavage between many political Wards in Awgu Local Government Area.
The ideal of balancing power between the Awgu North and South has also been codified by a number of previous administration in Awgu.
Prior to 1999, when the country returned to true democracy, the power sharing between the Awgu North and South have been peaceful and accommodating and anyone who may have the intention to thewat this existing principle of zoning formula should have a rethink.
Narrowing the political history down to the former Local government administration in Awgu. Hon. Augustine Chukwuobasi, had his secretary Dr. Uduhele.
Hon. John Oyego, had his secretary, Late/Mr. Can Umeh. Hon. Matthias Nze, had his secretary, Hon. Egwuonwu. The immediate past Awgu Local Government Chairman Hon. Pedro Okwudirichukwu Nwankwo, had his secretary, Barr. Linus Maduka.
Obviously, when a Chairman emerged from the Awgu North, the positions occupied by Awgu South will automatically swapped to Awgu North.
The position of swapping was always done with clear understanding of the existing politics between North and South. In this regard, it is within the requisite right of the incoming Chairman of Awgu Local Government, Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo to choose whosoever he prefers to be his secretary from Awgu North, entirely.
On this position, the writter is not try to compel the incoming Chairman but for him to see the need to maintain and retain the existing zoning arrangement.
Hon. Uchenna Joseph Okolo is peace sitter, a man of proving integrity and we believe that his administration would foster more progress, harmony and inclusiveness.
The introduction of the zoning system into Awgu political space was to aid the smooth rotation of key political positions across Awgu. This policy is to achieve fairness, peace and equitable distribution of positions.
Those who intentionally want to distorte the existing zoning arrangement between Awgu North and South respectively, have to be cautioned.
Signed
Engr. Michael Okafor
