A pressure group, Equity Movement in Anambra, has appealed for a power
shift to the southern part of the state, as the contest for the
November 2021 governorship poll gears up.
Mr Gaius Ezeh, Chairman of the group, made the appeal at a stakeholders’
forum on Tuesday in Ukpor, Nnewi South Local Government Area (LGA) of
the state.
According to him, allowing power to shift to Anambra South Senatorial
zone will ensure equity, fair play, justice and peace, as well as
socio-economic and political growth of the state.
”I want to appeal to political parties and aspirants from Anambra
Central and North senatorial zones to allow only those from Anambra
south to contest in the November 2021 governorship poll in the state.
“In the 2017 governorship election in the state, almost all political
parties zoned their governorship position to the North senatorial
district, as the zone had never produced a governor for the state.
“Anambra Central senatorial district did three years and 10 months under
Dr Chris Ngige, and eight years under Mr Peter Obi. So, the zone held
the governorship for almost 12 years.
“Therefore, for equity, all political parties must now consider the
Southern zone in the 2021 poll. Equity demands that the South should
have it.
“We also believe that adherence to the zoning agreement will reduce the
cost of politicking and problems that comes with do or die politics,” he
said.
Ezeh said the group would continue to propagate the rotation of office
of the governor among the three senatorial zones of Anambra North, South
and Central.
Also speaking, an elder statesman and First Republic Minister of
Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, lamented the high number of aspirants
from the Anambra South senatorial zone.
Amechi urged the aspirants to coordinate behind a single candidate from
the zone, who had credibility, proven integrity, sound education,
competence and would prioritise the welfare of the people.
In his views, Sen. Nnamdi Eriobuna, who represented Anambra South in the
Senate from 1999 to 2003, said that Anambra South was due to produce the
next governor.
Eriobuna urged aspirants from the zone to coordinate themselves and work
towards winning at their various party primary elections.
“After the primaries, we can now scale the number of candidates from the
South zone and endorse a candidate that would contest in the election,”
he said.
Some aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Anambra South senatorial zone, who attended the forum were Mr Valentine
Ozigbo, the former Managing Director of Transcorp.
Dr Ifedi Okwenna who served as Special Assistant (Political) to former
President Olusegun Obasanjo, was also in attendance.
Another aspirants on the platform of the Labour Party (LP), Group Capt.
Nnamdi Nnoruka, and some traditional rulers also graced the occasion.
(NAN)