◾Urges LG APC stalwarts to speak out
◾Says ‘Use Party Congress to correct imbalances’
Following the allegation of marginalization against some political blocs in Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA of Imo State, a group, Ezinihitte Concerned Citizens (ECC), has cried out to Imo State Governor, Sen Hope Uzodimma and the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to correct the imbalances.
Briefing Journalists after a crucial meeting at Ezinihitte Mbaise, Coordinator of Ezinihitte Concerned Citizens, Chief Emeka Nwachukwu revealed that over 80 percent of the key political positions in the LGA are concentrated in Ezi Center alone.
Nwachukwu said he does not understand the reason for such political lopsidedness in Ezinihitte Mbaise now, whereas over the years, there have been conscious efforts to maintain balances in political and administrative offices.
“We are calling on His Excellency, Governor Hope Uzodimma and the Imo State APC Chairman, Dr Macdonald Ebere, to come to the rescue of Ezinihitte Mbaise as the political imbalances are threatening to create crises, which may affect the party in the next general election.
“Where the LGA Council Chairman, Hon Sir Ambrose Nwachukwu, LGA APC Chairman, Hon Mark Adindu, Secretary to the Local Government (Sec log), Hon C. C. Ekpe and even the Commissioner in the Judicial Service Commission, Sir Louis Alozie SAN, are all from, not just Ezi Center but from the same Itu Ward is that not the worst and insensitive type of political marginalization?
“Even the House of Assembly member for Ezinihitte Mbaise State Constituency, Hon Dr Henry Agbasonu is from Okpofe, a neighbouring community to Itu, in the same Ezi Center bloc.
“I want someone to tell us why Ezi Center or particularly, Itu Ward should have the lion shares of such political and administrative positions in the LGA. Is it that Ezi Center has the bulk of voters ahead of others? Statistics show that Ezi Center is the smallest in terms of number of voters in Ezinihitte.
We are not particular about appointment because it is the prerogative of the governor or the appointee to appoint who can serve him better, and he can choose to make five appointments in one family. I am talking about elective positions and Ezinihitte has a sharing formula.
“Let me place this on record, Ezinihitte Mbaise politically has 12 INEC wards. Six wards are in Ezi East, three wards are in Ezi West and three in Ezi Center. It is on record that both Ezi East and Ezi West produce higher votes than Ezi Center in any election.
“One should now be surprised why the two blocs with the highest votes are marginalized while the block with the least votes has all the key political positions in Ezinihitte Mbaise.
“If not for political equity based on agreement, Ezi Center will not be able to win any political position on the strength of their votes. For instance, during the last House of Assembly election, it was agreed that based on the occupants of the position, it should go to Ezi Center, and it was unanimously agreed.
“The ruling APC LGA Chairmanship position should not have come from any bloc that has any key political position.
“There was a politically discussed gentleman’s agreement in the early 1990s, when Ezinihitte was divided into two – North and South each with six wards. South has Ezi West and Ezi Center. North has six wards, which is now Ezi East. If the House of Assembly for instance, emerges from Ezinihitte South, then the LGA Chairman will go to Ezinihitte North. No ward can get two major statutory political positions.
“Now, the LGA council Chairman, member of House of Assembly and even the LG APC Chairman are all from Ezi Center. While the House of Assembly member is from Okpofe/Ezeagbogu ward, the others are from one ward- Itu Ward. It has not happened in Ezinihitte Mbaise before.
“We know where the bulk of the votes usually come from. Anyone who wants peace to reign should verify and call on the leadership of our party to ensure equitable distribution of political positions.
“In line with the saying that ‘what is good for the geese is equally good for the gander’s, the APC will soon have congresses. The tenure of the current APC LGA Chairman, Hon Mark Adindu is coming to an end. We demand that the party leadership should intentionally zone that position to any of the marginalised blocs -Ezi East or Ezi West.
“Let such zoning be the stepping stone in addressing the unconscionable imbalances and marginalization in our LGA.
“We call on all our party leaders and stalwarts to speak up. I call on Chief Hilary Ekeh as a former APC State Chairman, Her Excellency Dr Mrs Ada Okwuonu, former Deputy Governor, to speak out. You people know Ezinihitte better than some newbie political actors.
“We call on all former chairmen of Ezinihitte Mbaise LGA who are in APC, people like Chief Christian Njoku, Chief Bede Nzenwa, Hon Bob Anyanwu, Hon Francis Onyeberechi, Hon Chukwuma Ojukwu, and others to please intervene. Are you people not feeling concerned that Ezinihitte Mbaise is drifting politically?”, Nwachukwu stated.
It will be recalled that before the last Local Government council election in Imo, there was the clamour by some persons for the Chairmanship position to be ceded to other blocs. Which was the right thing to do.
Some political analysts and other opposition parties believe that the current disaffection in the APC in Ezinihitte Mbaise is a blessing in disguise for the opposition to take the advantage.
“Leaders, stakeholders should as a matter of urgency start with the party Congress to resolve these imbalances, using the LG APC Chairmanship as the first step.
“Our Governor should please call on Ezinihitte leaders who know the sharing formula in the LGA for their advice”, Coordinator of Ezinihitte Concerned Citizens appealed.
The group further expressed gratitude to Governor Hope Uzodimma for his position to adopt the Imo Charter of Equity and for constructing the Owerri -Mbaise Road.
