Members of the old Onitsha Local Government Area, comprising of Ogbaru, Onitsha North & Onitsha South in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria has reiterated their support for Senator representing Anambra North, Stella Oduah who is contesting for re-election.
Gatekeepers News reports that the members of the LGA debunked the claims by a group of individuals from the Omambala axis, who are insisting that the office of Senator representing Anambra North, should be held by persons of Omambala extraction.
In a communique signed by
The members of Old Onitsha LGA in a communique they signed said, “Before we delve into this issue, permit us to mention that our membership is made up of persons born and bred within the aforementioned old Onitsha LGA and it is important to note that as long as one is born and bred there, lives, pays taxes, indigenous and votes there, they are bonafide members of Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Ogbaru.
“Indeed, we speak with one voice in condemnation of this obvious attack and conspiracy by some individuals from the Omambala axis who have gone ahead to engage media partners who spend day and night, castigating our people and claiming that we are not deserving of having a senator emanating from our people.
“For the avoidance of doubt, if there is any area that should be clamouring for Equity, it is Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Ogbaru because the Omambala axis has always retained the upper hand in terms of how political offices are shared in Anambra North and the facts bear us witness.”
According to them, Omambala has had far more sons and daughters representing Anambra North including, Senator Edwin Onwudiwe from Oyi, Senator Chuba Okadigbo from Oyi, Senator Emma Anosike from Anambra East, Senator Alphonsus Igbeke from Anambra east, and Senator Margery Okadigbo from Oyi.
The communique read further, “Again please note that in terms of political office opportunities zoned to Anambra North, the Omambala axis has always retained an almost exclusive right to present candidates and this clearly showed in the appointment of a deputy governors where Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Ogbaru were never considered but Omambala presented the underlisted persons when the opportunity arose;
1. Dr Chudi Nwike from Oyi.
2. Cheif Chinedu Emeka from Anambra West.
“It gets even worse when we consider that even when opportunities arose to present a person of Anambra North extraction for ministerial position, the Omambala axis presented one in the person of Chief Chinedu Emeka from Anambra West.”
It added, “We must never forget in a hurry that it is this same Omambala axis that produced a Governor for 8 years in the person of Chief Willie Maduabuchukwu Obiano from Anambra East when the office was zoned to Anambra North and to further add insult to the injury suffered by Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Ogbaru axis, the Omambala zone concurrently retained the office of Speaker of the Anambra State House of Assembly in the person of the Rt. Hon. Uche Victor Okafor who hails from Ayamelum LGA.”
The members of the LGA stressed that the above pattern was intentionally designed to sideline the Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Ogbaru axis from the scheme of things by Omambala brethren “who are even now unfairly clamouring for the only position we currently wield: the Senate.”
The communique read further, “We want to place it on record that Onitsha North, Onitsha South, and Ogbaru has always looked the other way in support of our Omambala brethren who have occupied far more political offices ordinarily zoned to Anambra North and are surprised and discouraged by the recent campaign of calumny leveled against our people by their media agents who go as far as claiming an erroneous favoritism in terms of how projects and programs have been facilitated in our axis and shall no longer sit back and watch this odious trend to continue.
“After much deliberations and noting the recent brazen call for a meeting by the aforementioned Omambala elements where issues pertaining to ensuring their axis gets the Anambra North Senatorial slot, we the members of the old Onitsha LGA comprising of Ogbaru, Onitsha North and Onitsha South, hereby resolve as follows;
“That we condemn in it’s entirety, the recent campaign of calumny leveled against our axis and candidate.
“That Onitsha North, Onitsha South and Ogbaru have historically, clearly and consistently had the short end of the stick in terms of how political parties zoned to Anambra North have been shared.
“That our historical disposition of allowing ourselves to be cheated out of the scheme of things should never be regarded as a sign of weakness or disunity within our ranks.
“That Equity simply demands that we be allowed to retain the office of Senator.
“That it is absurd and self immolating to be talking about power rotation at a time when Anambra North is eminently positioned to have a ranking lawmaker and principal officer at the 10th assembly.
“That the most important consideration for making the choice of a senator should be the capacity of the candidate as opposed to the area where they emanate from and that it is clear to all that a ranking and senior lawmaker, stands more chance to not only be heard but attract more dividends of democracy to Anambra North.
“We call on our brothers and sisters of Omambala extraction to ignore the clamour by persons within their ranks to deny Anambra North the chance of having a principal officer representing us at the Senate and enjoin them to join hands with us in electing a formidable and people oriented Senator in the person of Princess Stella Adaeze Oduah OON.”
The communique was signed by:
1. Chief Ekemezie Chibuzor (Onitsha North)
2. Emeka T. Ossai
(Ogbaru)
3. Mbunabor Nwachukwu.
(Onitsha North)
4. Onele Obinwanne Nelson.
(Onitsha North)
5. Anthony N. Inoma
(Onitsha North)
6. Egbuna Obiesie Louis.
(Onitsha North)
7. Achike Onyinye.
(Ogbaru)
8. Ezekude C. Ernest.
(Ogbaru)
9. Ezeolisa Uchenna Augustine.
(Ogbaru)
10. Francis Sebastine Atugbu.
(Onitsha North)
11. Emeka Mozie.
(Onitsha South)
12. Nwokedi Cynthia Ekwuife.
(Onitsha North)
13. Onyeachonam Onyechi.
(Onitsha North)
14. Afuberoh Fidelis.
(Ogbaru)
15. Nwanodi F. A.
(Ogbaru)
16. Iweanya P. Emeka.
(Onitsha South)
17. Patrick Onyechi.
(Onitsha South)
18. Enebeli Udoka Eucharia.
(Ogbaru)
19. Nwanta Innocent.
(Ogbaru)
20. Uyanne Ikenna
(Ogbaru)
21. Anugo Damanze.
(Onitsha South)
