From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State government under the watch of Governor David Nweze Umahi has constituted a zoning committee to ensure equitable distribution of political power in its commitment to advancing people's oriented leadership in the state.
The Chairman of the Committee, Deacon Austin Umahi made this known while briefing newsmen on Monday after his inauguration with the members at the new Exco-Chambers, Government House, Centenary City Abakaliki.
Deacon Umahi described the constitution of the committee as a remarkable one, noting that the idea would promote fairness, equity and justice in the leadership of the state.
"Today is very remarkable in Ebonyi State, it's remarkable because Ebonyi people have been a very unique state, and also have a unique way of doing their things.
"The APC and the leader of the party in their wisdom thought it wise that orderliness, fairness, equity and justice that Ebonyi is known for should be continuity, and then, they decided to constitute this noble body."
The Chairman of the committee also noted that the assignment would help to reform the political system of the state for the benefit of the citizens.
"This zoning committee is an assignment to stand with. It's an assignment that, if there were wrong ways, they were doing it, we will right the wrongs.
"We believe that power belongs to the people, and we need to take back the power to the people. How do we take power to the people? It's by doing what the people say," the chairman said.
He assured that the committee would go to the local government areas even to the wards, to know what's their zoning arrangement, and equally ascertain how they choose their representatives into different political positions.
Speaking on the importance of the action plans by the committee, Umahi said, "it's because politics is local, and not for urban guerrilla, causing most of this noise you hear in Ebonyi state today. It is a result of the fact that there was a time we fundamental got it wrong.
"You don't give somebody something he doesn't know the value. Most of these people that are making noise are because they were carried at the back, even when the people were saying no, and they were imposed on them and this is the repercussion.
"Once beaten twice shine, it is the time to ask the people, whom do you want to be your leader? If the person you choose is bad, you know that you are choosing your leader and the person is bad; and not by imposition."
He commended Governor Umahi, describing him as an innovative Governor, saying the composition of the committee is a noble and laudable idea. "One is the calibre of the members, two is the timeliness, and three is to ensure that the Ebonyi state remains peaceful," he stated.
Further, Deacon Umahi noted that in terms of APC leadership at the national and zonal levels, the positions allotted to Ebonyi State were equitably distributed.
"The State Chairman of the party is from Ebonyi South, the national treasurer should go to the north, while the zonal Secretary goes to the Central.
"That's equity and fairness, and it has settled down our yawning because the people are happy with it. As far as the Constitution of the Ebonyi State, they have been equitably distributed," he cleared.
In addition, the former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Dr Chike Onwe, disclosed that the outcome of the committee would crown the formation of the contending charter of equity to ensure smooth political leadership arrangement in the state.
