By Nkechinyere Ewa
Former Information Commissioner says equity, justice and fairness underpin the ‘Salt of the Nation’ mantra, urges Ifeanyi Odii to withdraw from governorship race
The mantra “Salt of the Nation” has become more than a slogan in Ebonyi State. It represents a political philosophy anchored on equity, justice and fairness, which, according to former Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, has helped to sustain peace, unity and political stability in the state.
Orji made this assertion while reacting to the outcome of the Ebonyi State Stakeholders Political Summit held on October 20, 2026, at which political leaders and stakeholders endorsed Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for a second term in office.
He commended the leaders, stakeholders and people of Ebonyi State for what he described as their commitment to preserving the state’s political tradition of inclusion and peaceful rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones.
According to him, the decision to sustain the zoning arrangement reflects the values associated with Ebonyi’s identity as the Salt of the Nation, a description he said should be demonstrated through practical commitment to fairness, mutual respect and the collective interest of the people.
Orji maintained that the principles of equity, justice and fairness had remained central to the political understanding that has guided the state since its creation on October 1, 1996.
He argued that the state’s relative political stability and the preservation of mutual trust among its constituent political blocs could be linked to the understanding that no senatorial zone should permanently dominate the governorship at the expense of the others.
For him, zoning is not merely a political arrangement for sharing power; it is a mechanism for preserving the unity of a state whose political structure brings together communities with different historical backgrounds.
Zoning as a Pillar of Political Stability
Ebonyi State comprises three senatorial zones: Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South. According to Orji, the rotation of the governorship among these zones has provided a framework for political inclusion and helped to maintain a balance of interests.
He noted that Ebonyi North and Ebonyi Central were carved out of the old Enugu State, while Ebonyi South was created from the old Abia State.
Orji argued that without a mutually respected zoning arrangement, the relationship among the zones could have been undermined by suspicion, competition and mistrust over access to political power.
He likened zoning to salt, which preserves food and gives it taste, explaining that the arrangement helps to preserve political harmony while ensuring that every zone has an opportunity to produce the governor.
“Without equity in governorship rotation, the state would have decayed into mistrust between the two senatorial zones that came from Enugu State and the senatorial zone that came from Abia State. Equity, like salt, is our preservative,” he said.
He maintained that the state must continue to protect this political understanding if it hopes to preserve the unity and stability that have characterised its governorship transitions.
The Historical Pattern of Governorship Rotation
To illustrate his argument, Orji traced the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones since the return to democratic rule in 1999.
He explained that Ebonyi North produced the first civilian governor of the state, Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu, who served from 1999 to 2007.
The governorship subsequently moved to Ebonyi Central, which produced Chief Martin Elechi, who served from 2007 to 2015.
Ebonyi South took its turn with the emergence of Engr. David Umahi, who governed the state from 2015 to 2023.
According to Orji, the emergence of Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru from Ebonyi North in 2023 marked the beginning of another eight-year cycle for the zone, expected to run until 2031.
The rotational pattern can be illustrated as follows:
1999–2007: Ebonyi North — Dr. Sam Ominyi Egwu.
2007–2015: Ebonyi Central — Chief Martin Elechi.
2015–2023: Ebonyi South — Engr. David Umahi.
2023–2031: Ebonyi North — Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, to complete the current eight-year cycle if re-elected.
Orji argued that respecting this pattern would demonstrate the state’s commitment to fairness and ensure that the political interests of the three zones remain protected.
He said zoning was essential to guaranteeing that every senatorial zone had a sense of belonging and could participate in the leadership of the state without feeling excluded.
“Justice to all is the taste that salt gives. Justice is what makes leadership acceptable to all zones. A governorship position that remains in one zone, or a zone that takes the chances of another zone, loses taste for the other two zones.
“Zoning makes every Ebonyian taste governance and makes every zone feel they belong,” he said.
‘Salt of the Nation’ as a Model for Political Inclusion
Orji further argued that Ebonyi State’s experience with power rotation offered an example of how political diversity could be managed through consensus and a commitment to fairness.
He described the outcome of the stakeholders’ summit as an indication that political leaders in the state recognised the importance of protecting the established arrangement for the benefit of present and future generations.
According to him, the Salt of the Nation mantra carries a responsibility to demonstrate the values of unity, inclusion and peaceful coexistence in the state’s political affairs.
He maintained that Ebonyi’s experience should serve as an example to other parts of Nigeria, particularly at a time when questions surrounding zoning, power-sharing and political inclusion continue to generate debate.
“By building consensus around fairness, Ebonyi stakeholders have shown leadership by example. Although Ebonyi is a small and young state, it is leading the way with this zoning decision.
“While Nigeria struggles with zoning at the centre, Ebonyi has shown consistency over the years. We are truly the Salt of the Nation because we lead the way in showing Nigeria how to manage diversity and plurality fairly,” he said.
He added that the strength of the arrangement depended on the willingness of political actors to place collective interests above individual ambitions.
For Orji, the continued observance of zoning would reinforce confidence among the three senatorial zones and reduce the likelihood of political tensions arising from disagreements over succession.
Appeal to Ifeanyi Odii to Withdraw from the Race
Against this background, the former commissioner called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Chief Ifeanyi Odii, from Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, to withdraw from the governorship race.
He urged Odii to consider the implications of his ambition for the state’s political stability and the mutual trust between the Abakaliki and Afikpo political blocs.
Orji maintained that political ambitions should not be pursued in ways that could undermine the understanding that has guided the rotation of the governorship among the three senatorial zones.
He appealed to Odii and other political actors who believe in the unity and continued development of Ebonyi State to respect the zoning arrangement, which, according to him, provides for Ebonyi North to complete its eight-year tenure before power rotates to Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South.
He warned that abandoning the arrangement could threaten the political balance that stakeholders have worked to maintain over the years.
Orji therefore urged Odii not to allow himself to become an instrument of political destabilisation, stressing that the collective interest of Ebonyi State should take precedence over personal ambition.
His appeal, he said, was rooted in the need to preserve the relationship among the state’s political blocs and ensure that the governorship succession process remained peaceful and predictable.
Why Nwifuru Deserves a Second Term
Orji also reaffirmed his support for the decision of political leaders and stakeholders to endorse and work for the re-election of Governor Nwifuru.
He argued that the governor’s second-term bid was important not only for allowing Ebonyi North to complete its eight-year cycle but also for sustaining the political understanding underpinning the state’s zoning arrangement.
Beyond the question of rotation, the former commissioner praised Nwifuru’s leadership style and the implementation of his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs, which he said was designed to address the needs of the people, particularly at the grassroots.
According to him, the governor’s inclusive approach to governance and his focus on the needs of ordinary citizens provide additional reasons for supporting his re-election.
Orji described Nwifuru as a leader whose administration had raised hopes for a better future among the people, adding that continuity would give the state an opportunity to consolidate its development efforts.
“In all ramifications, the governor earns our support through his inclusive leadership and through the compassionate delivery of his People’s Charter of Needs that trickles down to the grassroots.
“The hope for the future of the common man resonates in him, and he has inspiring credentials that will transform the mindset of the new generation of Ebonyi people,” he said.
He maintained that political stability and continuity were necessary for the state to sustain its development agenda, arguing that an orderly transition based on an established understanding would strengthen confidence in the political system.
A Call to Protect the State’s Political Balance
Orji called on the people of Ebonyi State to protect what he described as the state’s charter of peace, insisting that the zoning arrangement must be respected if the state is to realise the aspirations of its founding fathers.
He said the three senatorial zones must be treated as equal partners in the political development of Ebonyi, warning that any arrangement that gives one zone an advantage at the expense of the others could weaken the existing balance.
Using the symbolism of a three-legged structure, he explained that the stability of the state depended on maintaining equilibrium among Ebonyi North, Ebonyi Central and Ebonyi South.
“The equilibrium of the tripod must be maintained. If one leg is longer than the other two, the state will fall. Equity, justice and fairness ensure that all three legs North, Central and South are equal,” he said.
He urged political leaders, stakeholders and residents to continue promoting dialogue, mutual respect and consensus in resolving political questions, stressing that the future of the state depended on the ability of its people to protect their shared interests.
Orji said the decision reached at the stakeholders’ summit should therefore be seen as a commitment to sustaining political inclusion and preventing disputes that could arise from disagreements over the rotation of power.
He maintained that the true meaning of the Salt of the Nation mantra would be demonstrated by the state’s willingness to uphold fairness, protect the interests of all its constituent zones and maintain peaceful political succession.
“As the Salt of the Nation, we must not lose our saltiness. If we abandon equity in zoning, with what shall Nigeria be seasoned? Our orderly and peaceful transition is our witness to Nigeria that unity is possible.”