By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The leadership of Nzukọ Ọra Nnewi Town Union has reaffirmed the town’s long-standing rotational agreement on elective political positions, declaring that the current administration of Nnewi North Local Government led by a Chairman from Umudim quarter must complete its full four-year tenure before power shifts to Nnewichi quarter.
This position was contained in a joint communiqué issued after a meeting of the President General of Nzukọ Ọra Nnewi and the Presidents General of the three quarters of the town, following deliberations on issues affecting unity, fairness and political harmony among Ndi Nnewi.
The communiqué, which was jointly signed by the President General of Nzukọ Ọra Nnewi, Hon. Prince Jude Osumuoh FCAI, JP, alongside President General of Uruagu Quarter, Hon. Innocent Okoli; President General of Otolo Quarter, Hon. Amobi Adukwulu; and President General of Umudim Quarter, Hon. Uzochukwu Anyadiegwu; was also copied to the traditional leadership of the town, including the Igwe of Nnewi, His Royal Highness, Igwe Dr. Kenneth Orizu III, JP, CON, as well as the Obis of the respective quarters.
According to the communiqué, the rotational arrangement guiding political leadership in Nnewi is clear and non-negotiable, with each quarter serving four-year term whenever it is their turn.
The Nzukọ Ọra Leadership recalled that since 1997, the rotation system among the four quarters of Nnewi (Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewichi) has been strictly observed and has played a critical role in sustaining peace, equity and stability within the town.
They stressed that with someone from Umudim currently holding the elective chairmanship position for barely two years now, it remains the legitimate turn of the quarter to complete its four-year tenure, after which someone from Nnewichi will take over and hold the Chairmanship position for the next four years in line with the established rotational order.
Given that the past Local Government Chairmen from other quarters served four-year term each, the communiqué also addressed concerns arising from the new Local Government Electoral Law that now makes tenures of local government Chairmen two years of maximum of two terms. According to the communiqué, any attempt by other quarters to truncate Umudim’s slot to two years is unfair, inequitable and capable of undermining the spirit of unity among the quarters.
The Nzukọ Ọra Nnewi leadership maintained that equity and fairness demand that Umudim be allowed to serve its own four years (the ending two years and another term of two years) before Nnewichi comes in and serve its own four years. It further warned that deviation from the agreed rotation could create unnecessary tension and feelings of marginalisation.
In its resolutions, Nzukọ Ọra Nnewi reiterated that the town remains firmly committed to the sharing and rotation agreement, under which no quarter is permitted to exceed or fall short of the four-year tenure arrangement.
They further resolved that immediately after Umudim completes its tenure, Nnewichi shall assume the chairmanship position for a full four-year term, in strict compliance with the existing rotation standard.
The town union leadership also called on all political parties preparing for the next local government chairmanship election to field candidates from Umudim community, in recognition of its right to complete its ongoing tenure.
Emphasising the need for collective responsibility, the leaders urged Ndi Nnewi to uphold the rotational system as a shared covenant that has sustained harmony and prevented domination by any single quarter.
