By Samson Ezea
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!They are at it again. Desperation and deception, embedded in a phantom mantra of a one-term promise, have become the latest gimmick and subterfuge being deployed by some intending governorship aspirants from Enugu East Senatorial Zone ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Their reason for dangling this political bait before the people of Enugu State is simple: they fully understand and acknowledge the long-established zoning arrangement of the governorship seat among the three senatorial zones. This tradition has fostered peace, unity, mutual respect, and smooth transitions of power over the years.
Although some greedy, desperate, and unscrupulous elements, who often rely on hollow claims of superiority, one-term pledges, and other manipulative tactics, have repeatedly attempted to distort this arrangement, they have consistently been resisted and defeated by the enduring spirit of the founding fathers of Enugu State, who instituted the system in the interest of fairness and peaceful coexistence.
Ahead of the 2027 governorship election, I recently came across a statement credited to an ousted minister from the same senatorial zone as the incumbent governor, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. He reportedly assured his supporters that if elected, he would serve only one term in supposed respect for the zoning principle. Kudos to him, at least, for acknowledging the obvious rather than dismissing it outright, as others have done in the past.
However, this overused, hollow, and outdated political gimmick cannot succeed, assuming, without conceding, that the people of Enugu State would even contemplate supporting such a candidate against a performing and widely acknowledged governor like Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah. That possibility remains highly unlikely.
The level of political awareness and consciousness among the people of Enugu State today is far too high for anyone to pull the wool over their eyes. Over time, they have come to view individuals with desperate and inordinate ambitions to disrupt the zoning arrangement as adversaries of the state’s unity, stability, and development.
This perception becomes even stronger when such individuals are of questionable character or are being sponsored by political godfathers seeking to hijack the collective patrimony of the people and mortgage the future of the state. One is compelled to ask: how can a person who has been less than truthful about something as fundamental as personal credentials be entrusted with the highly revered office of governor?
Beyond this, how do aspirants from the same senatorial zone as Governor Mbah expect the people of Enugu West Senatorial Zone, who are constitutionally next in line to produce the governor in 2031, to trust them with power in 2027 based on a mere verbal promise of one term? Such a promise holds no constitutional weight, as any elected governor retains the legal right to seek a second term.
The same logic applies to certain voices in Enugu North Senatorial Zone, where some individuals have been naively speculating about a premature change of leadership at the Lion Building in 2027. They seem to forget that any disruption of the established zoning order would ultimately have far-reaching consequences, affecting not just one zone, but the entire state.
The people of Enugu State have encountered similar promises in the past, often from candidates with far stronger credentials, and they rejected them. Why then should they now embrace such a recycled and questionable proposition from individuals driven by desperation?
History has shown that politicians who rely on such tactics, both at the state and national levels, often end in failure. The story will not be different in 2027, especially in Enugu State, where the incumbent governor has distinguished himself through performance and has, by merit, earned widespread support.
That said, no one should begrudge these aspirants; it is their constitutional right to contest. However, it is equally valid to question their underlying motives. For some, the ambition may be less about service and more about political visibility, relevance, or even financial gain during the electioneering process. As the saying goes, not everyone seen in church on Sunday is there to pray.
In conclusion, the people of Enugu State must remain vigilant, discerning, and steadfast in protecting the principles that have sustained peace and fairness in the state. The deceptive allure of a one-term promise must not be allowed to undermine a time-tested zoning arrangement built on equity and mutual trust.
Leadership is not about clever promises or political theatrics, but about integrity, credibility, and proven capacity. As 2027 approaches, Ndi Enugu must once again rise above manipulation and reaffirm their commitment to truth, justice, and the collective good of the state.
Ezea writes from Independence Layout, Enugu State