A Response to Barr Ikeuwa Omebeh: On History, Justice, and the Aspiration of Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii
The statement credited to Barr. Chief Ikeuwa Omebeh, Honourable Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, is a classic example of selective history used to defend an unjust status quo. It seeks to dismiss legitimate grievances with labels like “malicious propaganda” while ignoring the historical facts that explain why Ebonyi people are asking for a new balance in 2027.
The truth is simple: the author’s ignorance of how Ebonyi was created and how power was originally agreed to be shared is at the heart of the problem dragging Ebonyi backwards.
According to established history, the old Abakaliki Bloc and Old Afikpo Bloc existed before October 1, 1996. But to reduce that history to mere geography, as Omebeh has laboured to do, is dishonest.
Before state creation, the political, economic, and administrative relationship between the two blocs was the basis for negotiation on how the new Ebonyi State would be governed. The founding fathers, elders, and stakeholders of both Abakaliki and Afikpo zones met and reached an understanding: that power would rotate between the two major blocs, not strictly by the three senatorial zones created later.
That was the original agreement. It was a gentlemen’s agreement born out of mutual trust to ensure no section felt swallowed by the other.
What happened? The Abakaliki Zone, having numerical advantage in LGAs and population, unilaterally jettisoned that agreement after the first two tenures. Instead of returning power to Afikpo Bloc as agreed, the zoning formula was re-written to favour three senatorial zones, with Abakaliki effectively controlling two out of the three zones: Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central.
That is the origin of the feeling of marginalization. It is not propaganda. It is documented history that elders in Afikpo, Edda, Ivo, Ohaozara, and Onicha still speak about.
The Commissioner argues that power has rotated: North, Central, South. But he refused to address the reality that: Abakaliki Bloc has produced governor for about 20 years: 12 years from North with Governor Nwifuru’scurrent term, 8 years from Central, while Afikpo Bloc has produced governor for only 8 years.
So when we talk about “Old Abakaliki Bloc vs. Old Afikpo Bloc” we are talking about a structural imbalance. Five LGAs in Afikpo Zone have had 8 years. Eight LGAs in Abakaliki Zone have had about 20 years. That is not equity. That is subjugation.
However, Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii’s aspiration is not anchored on Zone. It is about the progressive development of Ebonyi state. It is about competence, capacity, and character, which the Ebonyi state leadership, at this time, has openly demonstrated a lack of
Chief Odii is responding to a call. His aspiration is not to “disrupt peace.” It is to restore the progressive vision that was agreed upon at the birth of Ebonyi State. That means competence over sentiment. This has become critical because after years of its creation, Ebonyi needs a governor who can attract investment, create jobs, and industrialise the state. Business experience and managerial capacity matter now more than ever.
Secondly, peace can not be sustained by telling one bloc to keep quiet while the other dominates. True peace is built on justice. Therefore, the attempt to frame this demand as “incitement” or “anti-gradualist” is an effort to silence debate. But democracy thrives on debate. No law bars an Ebonyian from contesting th 2027 governorship election, and no commissioner can determine who the people of Ebonyi should stand with.
It must also be stated that the warning that “offenders will be prosecuted” and “do not be the scapegoat” by the Commissioner, is unfortunate attempt to intimidate the people into silence over the expression if their constitutional rights. It suggests that asking for equity is a crime. It is not. Ebonyians are peaceful people. They honoured every zoning arrangement even when it was unfair. What they are asking for now is not violence. They are asking for their right to choose and for a leader who will reposition the state.
Commissioner Omebeh should be reminded that Ebonyi deserves better than doctored history. His statement does a disservice to the founding fathers by rewriting history to suit present convenience. The marginalization of the Afikpo Bloc is real, and it is one of the reasons development in Ebonyi has been slow. When one section feels cheated, the whole state moves backwards.
Ifeanyi Chukwuma Odii’s aspiration represents that progressive balance. It is not about Abakaliki vs. Afikpo. It is about competence, justice, and giving Ebonyi a leadership that can compete in the 21st century. The people, not press statements, will decide in 2027. They will decide based on who offers them hope, fairness, and a future beyond recycled narratives.
Ebonyi must move forward together and fairly.