By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

A pressure group, Anambra Ekunie, has kicked against the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s support for the zoning of 2021 Anambra Governorship slot to the South Senatorial zone.

The group described the zoning idea as divisive and capable of balkanizing the state.

The zoning formula for governorship election in the state was created by the former Governor Peter Obi administration before the election that saw his exit and entrant of incumbent Governor Willie Obiano.

Governor Obiano, his party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and the state chapter of Ohaneze Ndigbo had clamored for the zoning of the 2021 governorship slot to the South on the interest of equity and fair play.

The group while saying that the zoning process will tear the state apart, urged Ohanaeze Ndigbo to steer clear of the 2021 governorship politics in the state.

In a statement made available to journalists in Awka, Anambra Ekunie said the contest should be thrown open since the three senatorial zones in the state have had their fair turns on the government seat since 1999.

The statement by group's president, Dr Ifeanyi Anachusi, warned those he said were “stoking discord and social fragmentation in the state using the zoning of the governorship election as a shield to desist from seeking to balkanize the state.”

He maintained that the zoning equation of the Anambra State governorship was balanced and settled in 2013 when Obiano ride on the slot of Anambra North senatorial zone to win election for the zone.

The statement partly reads: “Anambra State remains one and cannot be balkanized by political merchants who see zoning as an avenue to impose someone who will be subservient to them.

“We are disturbed by the outcome of a recent meeting of Anambra South political and traditional leaders where they insisted that the zone must produce the next governor in 2021. It seems to us that some politicians are beginning to use the traditional institution to drive a political agenda that could balkanuse the state.

“Our cause for worry is that the zone is beginning to act like it can intimidate other zones of Anambra State into submission and silence. That cannot happen.

“Anambra State belongs to all of us and the governorship of the state is open to every Anambra son and daughter who wants to contest.

“We cannot surrender the state to the whims of Anambra South traditional rulers and politicians including the state chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. That is not possible. For emphasis, Anambra South has had the most opportunities to govern the state since 1999.”

Anachusi described the insistence by some people that Obiano’s successor must come from Anambra South Zone as unacceptable act of provocation poised towards intimidating other zones to submission.

The group further said that Ohanaeze Ndigbo has no say on which zone will produce the governor of any state in the South-East, adding: “It must not interfere in the internal political issues of any state.”