By Izunna Okafor, Awka
Stakeholders from Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State have unanimously called for equity, fairness, and an all-inclusive approach ahead of the by-election to fill the vacant seat of the Anambra South Senatorial Zone in the National Assembly.
It would be recalled that the Anambra South Senatorial Zone has stayed for more three months now without a Senator in the National Assembly, following the passing of the former senator representing the Zone, Senator Dr. Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah, whose sudden death occurred on July 27.
However, as plans for the by-election to fill vacant seat left by Senator Ubah are underway, the stakeholders from Nnewi South, one of the seven local government areas that make up the Anambra South Senatorial District, have raised voices and concerns, calling for fairness and equity in filling the vacant seat.
The stakeholders, in recent meeting which also featured discussions on concerns about power rotation within the District, articulated their demand for a balanced distribution of federal political representation across the seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) that comprise the Anambra South Senatorial District.
In a statement issued at the end of the meeting, the stakeholders emphasized that Nnewi South has long suffered from a glaring absence of federal representation, despite being equally populous and significant as other local government areas in Anambra State.
The statement endorsed by prominent community leaders and political figures from the local government area highlighted that, while other local government areas, such as Ihiala and Aguata, boast representatives in the House of Representatives and have historically produced key political figures, including governors, Nnewi South remains marginalized.
“The current political landscape of Anambra South is unbalanced. While each of the other six local government areas in our zone have representation at the federal level — either in the House of Representatives or in the Senate — or governorship position; Nnewi South has been left out with nothing,” the statement partly read.
Continuing, it read: “Ekwusigo LGA has a sitting Federal House member, representing the Nnewi North/Nnewi South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency.
“Ihiala has a Federal Constituency of its own and has also produced a Governor, in the person of ex-Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju.
“Orumba North and South also have a Federal Constituency. Also, Aguata has both a Federal Constituency and currently holds the position of the Governor of Anambra State.
“Nnewi North has produced both Senator and House of Reps member. The late Senator Ubah and the immediate past House of Reps member came from Nnewi. And Nnewi currently holds the position of a Minister.
“But in all these, Nnewi South has none, which is not fair or justifiable in any sense of it.”
The statement also hinted that Nnewi South has the same number of (20) wards as Ihiala and Aguata respectively; but while each of the two local government areas has its own Federal Constituency, Nnewi South has none.
“Where is Nnewi South in the political representation of Anambra South?” the statement rhetorically asked, emphasizing the dire need to address these longstanding disparities and political inequalities.
While reechoing their sorrow over the death of Senator Ubah, the Nnewi South Stakeholders, in the statement, however, argued that the upcoming by-election to fill the Anambra South Senatorial seat presents an opportunity to correct the imbalance, to ensure that every part of Anambra South has a voice at the federal level and in the National Assembly.
They called on all political parties, leaders, and the wider community to support their demand, stressing that fairness and equity are fundamental pillars of a democratic society.
In no particular order, the statement was jointly signed by former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Maja Umeh; former President-General of Ukpor and former senatorial aspirant, Chief Emma Nwachukwu; the Chairman/CEO of Zara Stores Ltd., and MD/CEO of Anambra Rice Mill Ltd. (makers of Anambra Rice and Stine Rice), Chief Akai Egwuonwu; the Minority Leader, Anambra State House of Assembly and Member representing Nnewi South Constituency 2 in the House, Hon. Johnbosco Akaegbobi; the Nnewi South Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), Hon. Azubuike Osuchukwu.
Others include: the member representing Nnewi South Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chuddy Atuchukwu; former Transition Committee Chairman for Nnewi South Local Government Area, Hon. Engr. Chieloka Okoye; the Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Engr. Felix Odimegwu, PhD; the newly-elected Chairman for Nnewi South, Hon. Van George Ezeogidi; former member representing Nnewi South Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon Barr. Kingsley Iruba; the current member representing Nnewi South Constituency 1 in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Sunny Ozobialu; the MD/CEO, Chisco Group, Chief Chidi Anyaegbu; APGA Stalwart, Chief Chinedu Duke Anyachor.
