Anambra Gubernatorial Elections: The Game Changers, By Tobenna Obiano.

Some of us strive so hard not to discuss Anambra State politics and her narratives for fear of being misunderstood, misconstrued or misquoted, but the worse making of mankind is to hear nothing, say nothing or act nothing. It's a crime many commit.

I personally don't like zoning arrangements. I don't! This is one of Nigeria's latest and perhaps, greatest problem of recent time, zoning. We may argue forth and back about the equity and fairness thinking, but what happens to competence, discipline and informed leadership.

Today, the Nigerian nation-state is nearly stagnated, sickened and unprogressive because of the abysmal failure of the people to elect true-leaders, sacrificing same for the zoning or equity doctrine.

In a nation with vast human capital, that is why someone like Muhammad Buhari can make it to the Presidency. Even though his election solved the zoning or equity crisis, the troubles of misleadership, incompetence, insecurity, corruption, tribalism and religious bigotry stares us all in the face unattended to. Which is worse? Your guess is as good as mine.

Anambra State Elections is by the corner, and all we hear is nothing based on issues of good governance or informed leadership or discipline in management or people-oriented leadership or anything close to what makes greatness out of leaders.

All we hear is seat of Anambra State Govenrorship remains in the North!

What nonsense!

It's not just happening in Anambra. It's happens all-over Nigeria lately, and also in National elections. The marriage is often between North and South or vice versa. And check your records, even if it tends to solve the equity thinking, what becomes of the good governance point of view which actually should be more important than anything else.

It's not my business that we should insist on issues that shouldn't hold us back. The equity debate holds less or no water, afterall like in the case of Anambra, the incumbent is from Anambra North and he has served out a term. Nowhere is it mandatory that Anambra North must do two straight terms.

I write because I hate to see people speak, act or write ignorantly. How can supposed intelligent people have the balls to insist that all other contenders for the seat of Anambra State Government House should withdraw and allow for only those from Anambra North, this argument is lame and unintelligent. Infact, it's dead on arrival.

As a people, we should think more of our collective progress through electing leaders with sane minds, who are sound, seasoned, fine and refined. We should think of electing creative thinkers, smart doers, problem solvers with track record of success in variant fields of their endeavors, those who have the charisma and carriage to steer the ship of political leadership to greater heights.

Nigeria and lately my home state of Anambra has this problem of zoning, and it's got to stop. Without intent of sounding immodest, the zoning ideology does us more harm than good. I respect our elders and all those who insist that zoning is the answer, I only argue because it means we are limiting others who can outsmart them on level playing ground, and may even do better when gifted the mantle of leadership. We can't just relegate them to the back and allow a people from a divide, because of the equity ideology to lead alone, even if they are leading us back to Egypt.

We shouldn't continue to unintelligibly sacrifice competence over clearly incompent, unintelligent and uninformed class of individuals. As much as I'm concerned, it's petty.

If it's an Idoma man that will solve the problem of leadership in Nigeria, hire him. If it's a carpenter that can rescue Nigeria from an eventual fall, hire him. If it's a classroom teacher that has the witt to set Nigeria back on track, hire him.

I have been closely following developments in my home state of Anambra. I have been silently watching what is playing out. I have been looking at the candidates and at some point, I pulse and wonder, who even asked some of these ones to join the race? I mean those who have no track record of success in any field, including those who have served in hallowed chambers with less or plainly nothing to show for it. Is Anambra State a dumping ground?

I hope the question of zoning wouldn't make various political parties to do away with competence, informed leadership and those who have shown outstanding records in areas of leadership.

Lately, there are a few more serious-minded individuals who have capacity, carriage and that needed charism that have joined the race, they have entirely changed the calculations. The game changers are here and fresh air will be breathed upon us.

I don't honestly take APC serious, I never have. Their outing at the national level is a big shame and has remained catastrophic for us all. The leading party at home, APGA is lately a house divided against itself, if they fail to get their acts together soon, retirement and relegation looms; infact, they may end up gifting UPP the rewards from their divided home to gain. PPA has less capacity. PDP looks promising, while Labour is always a back up.

We keep our fingers crossed.