A group known as Enugu Rebirth has faulted the zoning of elective political offices in Enugu State, describing it as a tool of division and manipulation by the political class.

The group’s Director-General, Mr Chuka Eze, said this in a statement on Thursday, adding that the people of the state have failed to enjoy the benefits of zoning.

He said, “We restate our position that since the dawn of democracy in 1999, the good people of Enugu State have not derived, in measurable, tangible economic and social terms, from the phantom zoning of elective political offices. On the contrary, the real beneficiaries have been the political class who has found it easy and convenient to divide up political offices, and by extension, the resources and opportunities in those offices, among themselves and their cronies, at the expense of the people.

“But we note with deep regret that our people have, through years of mind manipulation, been made to believe that the values and benefits of democratic rule begins and ends with having someone from their community, town, local government area and senatorial zone, occupying a sensitive political office, whether elected or appointed. The more the people from one zone win government positions, the higher their perceived political weight at the detriment of others not so privileged.”

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Eze added that political leadership should be opened to all and based on competence instead of zones.

The development imperatives confronting Enugu State, we strongly note, cannot be solved through rotational representation, but rather through the upholding of competence and capacity. God does not vest these qualities in regions, in seasons and in convenient imaginary constituencies, especially one which avails all the opportunities to the vocal majority while depriving the entire populace of the values and intellect hidden among the minorities.