Ebonyi Council Polls: Why Onicha, Afikpo, Ezza North Council Chairmen May Not Go For Second Term
As the All Progressives Congress APC, Ebonyi State commences the sale of forms today and prepares for the State’s Local Government Election slated to hold on the 20th of July 2024 in the 13 local government and 171 wards of the State, political pundits and analysts in the State are examining the chances of the incumbent Council Chairmen and possible odds against their return to office.
The State Governor, Francis Nwifuru during the State Executive Committee meeting of the party yesterday at the Re-Meritona Hotel Abakaliki appealed that he be granted the opportunity for two Council Chairmen to be allowed to go for a second term in office. The request of the Governor which received a unanimous acceptance gave the Chairmen of Ikwo and Ohaozara Local Government a lifeline and automatic ticket to fly the flag of the party ahead of the primary election slated to hold on the 1st of June 2024.
While the Chairmen of Ikwo and Ohaozara have 99.9% assurance of their return for a second term in office, the same can not be said of the remaining 11 Chairmen who are already facing a strong opposition to their return. While some enjoy the support of the stakeholders of the Local Government Area, the same to a large extent is not applicable to the Chairmen of Onicha, Afikpo and Ezza North Local Government Areas of the State.
Political analysts are of the view that among the 11 incumbent Chairmen, the odds are heavily against Hon Chidiebere Egwu of Onicha Local Government, Hon Moses Ogodo-Ali of Ezza North and Uchenna Nnajiofor Ibiam of Afikpo North LGA.
Afikpo North: A political analyst and social commentator in the State, Dr. Ifeanyi Anya in an exclusive interview with Topnewsngr revealed that while the Council Chairman may enjoy the support of the people and stakeholders of Afikpo East, the same cannot be said of that of the stakeholders of Afikpo West which includes Amasiri, Ibii/Oziza and Akpoha. Afikpo Local Government is divided into two State Constituencies, the Afikpo West Constituency and that of Afikpo East Constituency. In the distribution of political appointments under the present administration, it is widely believed that the people of Afikpo West are greatly marginalized and shortchanged.
To this end, Afikpo East parades the likes of the present Deputy Governor of the State, Mrs. Patricia Obila, a member of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Idu Igariwe, the State Head of Service, Dr. Rita Rosemary Okoro, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Mr. Timothy Nwachi, the State APC legal Adviser, Barr. Liberty Ukeni, a member of the Ebonyi State Scholarship Board, Chief Donatus Ezeogo Aja, (Zentus), Mrs. Heritta Ikpor, SA to the Governor on Women Mobilization, Member Ebonyi State House of Assembly Commission, Mrs. Amuche Otunta Godwin, the SA to the Governor and the Local Government Chairman, Hon Uchenna Nnajiofor Ibiam.
It is pertinent to note that while the Afikpo East state Constituency parades these number of elected and political appointees under former Governor Umahi and Chief Francis Nwifuru’s administration, the people of Afikpo West currently needed to be accomodated in the scheme of things under Governor Nwifuru. In the present administration, the people of Afikpo West can only boast of a 4th time member of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Ogbonna Ikoro representing Afikpo West Constituency from Ibii/Oziza, the Chairman, Ebonyi Revenue Board, Rt. Hon Christopher Omo Isu from Akpoha, the State Commissioner for Markets, Prof Nwogho Obasi also from Akpoha while the people of Amasiri clan have the State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Prof Omari Omaka.
It is important to note that the people of Amasiri clan deserves more. It won’t be out of place, if the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government moves to Afikpo West precisely Amasiri clan for equity, justice and fair play to prevail. The State Governor, Francis Nwifuru is a man who believes in equity, Justice and fair play and it is expected that he will correct the lopsidedness in the political distribution in the Local Government which currently is against the people of Afikpo West.
Onitcha LGA; Just like that of the Afikpo Local Government, the same odds are seriously against the Chairman of Onicha Local Government Area who is currently battling for survival following his rejection by the stakeholders in the area especially the people of Ukawu community who recently in a media briefing expressed concern over the age long marginalization and exclusion in the scheme of things in the Local Government especially as it concerns the Chairmanship position.
The recent stakeholders meeting convened by the Former Deputy Governor of the State and the Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University has also generated controversy and political bickering among the stakeholders of Onicha Igboeze community. Why some argue that the meeting resolved that the people of Onicha Igboeze should complete a second term in office before the position will move to another area for equity and Justice, media aides attached to the Council Boss took to the social media alleging that the stakeholders resolved and endorsed the incumbent Chairman, Hon Chidiebere Uzor which others see as distortion of information and an exposition to the desperation of the incumbent Chairman.
The Chairman according to investigations comes from the same ward with the Senator Representing Ebonyi South Senatorial zone, Senator Anthony Ani which the people maintained that it is an injustice and unfair for the Senator and the Council Chairman to come from the same ward while other wards and communities of Onicha Igboeze are left with nothing. Political analysts maintained that for equity justice and fairness, since the political ward has produced the Senator, it is important that the Chairmanship position moves to another area within the Onicha Igboeze clan since the stakeholders have resolved to zone the position to Onicha Igboeze.
Ezza North; it is believed that the worst hit in the political permutation ahead of the Local Government Election is the incumbent Chairman of Ezza North Local Government Area, Hon Moses Ogodo-Ali. For stakeholders of Ezza North, the return of Chief Moses Ogodo-Ali is a No No. Political pundits are of the opinion that Chief Ogodo-Ali has lost touch with the reality of things and the People’s Charter of Needs of the present administration. It is the general believe that Chief Ogodo-Ali is working at cross roads with the good intentions of the Rt. Hon Francis Nwifuru’s administration. It is pertinent to note that it is unheard of and unbecoming of a Local Government Chairman to refuse the plea of the State Governor and engage him in an open confrontation at Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium during the Workers Day Celebration.
Topnewngr gathered that the State Governor during the Workers’ Day Celebration in line with his People’s orientated policy had instructed Chief Ogodo-Ali who doubles as the ALGON Chairman to make available a certain amount of money for the welfare of the workers who were at the stadium for the celebration but surprisingly, all the appeals made by the Governor was outrightly rejected by the power drunk ALGON Chairman. Though many believe that Chief Ogodo-Ali always find a way to warm himself into the heart of the powers that be but how that will work with the present administration of Governor Nwifuru is yet to be ascertained.
It is also believed that the present administration advocates for youthful leadership and Chief Ogodo-Ali in all spheres does not fall within such categories.
The 3 Council Chairmen are also believed to have exhibited a high level of high-handedness in their relationship with the Local Government workers who are the greatest supporters of the Governor Nwifuru’s present administration.
In a recent interview with the State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC, Chief Stanley Emegha, he made it clear that the party will field candidates that will win election for the party. The party is not living any stone unturned in ensuring that it secures a landslide victory during the forthcoming Local Government Election in the State. The chances of the 3 Council Chairmen to win the election for the party should the party and the powers that be insist on fielding them is very uncertain.
