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The signing of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law by President Buhari is widely accepted as it has elicited happiness among political players and watchers alike. The new Electoral Law as expected is catalyzing political activities among Nigerians.
Enugu State is not left out in this as a business mogul, philanthropist and former governorship contender in the State, Chief Anayo Onwuuegbu has declared support for Nkanu East to produce the next governor for the state in 2023.
Chief Onwuuegbu made the declaration recently when leaders from Nkanu East Local Government Area of Enugu State, under the aegis of Nkanu East Leaders Consultative Forum, NELCF, led by Prof. Bart Nnaji, paid him a courtesy call at his Enugu residence.
Anayo Onwuuegbu while responding to his visitors’ request for support for them to produce the next governor of Enugu State based on rotational arrangement in existence in the state, said their statement was quite in order with the thought and belief of the people of his zone (Enugu West) on how governorship and other political positions should rotate (whether written or not) among the people for even development, and peace to reign. He affirmed the poor state of roads and under development of the LGA, and noted that Nkanu East should be brought to par with other LGAs in the state in terms of development.
He gave an instance of the agitation for Nigeria presidency by the South East based on rotational arrangement which he emphasized was not written but implied and should be how arrangements in the states especially Enugu should flow.
“Thank you for the honour to pay me this important visit. When Prof Bart Nnaji informed me about your coming, I asked him that you should let me come to you instead, but he said you people should come. Once more, I greet you.
“Your statement is quite in order and in tandem with what some of us in our thoughts, belief and resolution have agreed, on how this (zoning) should be done. I am from Oji River LG and we resolved that (elective) positions should be rotated. Whether written or not, zoning is implied, and that we must align ourselves accordingly.
“We have a zoning arrangement for all political positions which was agreed to by the political class and endorsed by the traditional rulers, and this arrangement has been with us for more than 11 years.
“If we agree on zoning in Oji River, we should agree on zoning beyond Oji River. For instance, we the Igbos are clamouring that presidency is our turn in 2023, whether written or not.
“I had actually thought that those coming to visit me are the regular politicians not knowing it is a cream of Nkanu East leaders including the Igwes. You people should keep this up because once a people can come together, there is nothing they cannot achieve.
“I will advise that since so many people (Enugu State stakeholders) have decided that it (governorship) should go to your LGA, you should take this message to the governor and explain to him more than you have explained to me.
“On my part, within the next 48 hours, I will take your message to the governor and tell him what you came to tell me.
“In Oji River, we resolved that whoever the governor endorses, that person is whom we shall support.
“I strongly feel that Nkanu East deserves the slot. And if eventually it comes out from you (Nkanu East), if anybody from Oji River challenges the person, please call me first.
“My greatest assurance to you is that I will deliver your message (to the governor).
“Enugu West as a zone has also at a meeting, resolved that wherever the governor points, there we shall follow.
“I cannot forget your (Nkanu East) support when I contested for governorship, with Prof. Bart Nnaji leading from your front.
“God will crown your efforts”.
Prof. Bart Nnaji supported by HRH Igwe Abel Nwobodo had earlier pleaded with Chief Anayo Onwuuegbu to lend his support to the quest for Nkanu East to produce the next governor of Enugu State in 2023.
Prof. Nnaji who noted that the poor condition of roads including lack of federal or state presence in the LGA made them to come together, the only LGA in the state to mobilize such an assemblage of leaders to canvas for others’ support for them to produce the next governor of Enugu State after Ugwuanyi, assured that if Nkanu East was supported to produce the governor, whoever it would be, will ensure even development of Enugu State.
Prof. Bart Nnaji’s speech reads in part, “We thank you for granting us this audience. We are here to solicit your kind support for our LGA, Nkanu East to produce the next governor of Enugu State.
“Our local government is the most underdeveloped in Enugu East Senatorial District to the extent that some communities have to travel through four (4) local government areas before they could get to Amagunze, our LG Council Headquarters, yet others go through at least two (2) LGAs before accessing Amagunze. This really brings excruciating hardship on our people. We do not have any Federal or State presence in our LGA.
“We are not presenting any particular individual yet, but we have qualified men and women who are capable to deliver on the job.
“Our assurance to you is that whoever from Nkanu East that becomes the governor will ensure that development is spread across the entire Enugu State”.
In his comment, the traditional ruler of Ihuokpara, HRH Igwe F O Nwatu, thanked Chief Onwuegbu for granting them the audience, assuring that it was just one of the many collaborations to happen between him and Nkanu East. GMTNews
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