The ‘Nsukka Ezue Group’, a socio-cultural organization in Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, has urged the state Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to strictly adhere to the established rotational and zoning arrangement of the governorship position in the state, ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Chairman of the group, Prof. Damian Ugwutikiri Opata, made the call when he led a delegation of the organisation, on a solidarity visit to Governor Ugwuanyi, at the Government House.
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Prof. Opata said that “Zoning, whether called Federal Character, or rotation of offices, is very well established in Nigeria. It is the embodiment of equity, justice and inclusivity in any polity, especially one as diverse as the Nigerian Federation.
“Any person openly or clandestinely against zoning or campaigning against it in Nigeria in general, and in Enugu State in particular, is neither patriotic nor altruistic and peace loving,”
Commending Governo Ugwuanyi for the good job he has continued to do in Enugu State, the group declared support for the governor and urged him to go ahead and anoint his successor as his predecessors did while in office.
“You did not start the zoning in Enugu State, and you should never allow it to fail or collapse under your regime. It is a sacred obligation for you to succeed where your predecessors succeeded.
“We therefore call on you to endorse and implement the current zoning formula which provides that the next Governor of Enugu State should come from Enugu East Senatorial District,” the group said.
Prof. Opata also informed and invited Governor Ugwuanyi to their proposed National Dialogue on zoning scheduled for April 7, 2022, at Adada Hall, Nsukka Local Government Area.
He said that the dialogue will birth massive interactions with different groups with the aim of creating awareness and fully mobilizing the larger voter population.
Also speaking, the Director General of the group, Hon. Chineme Onyeke; Rev. Fr. Emeka Ngwoke, HRH Igwe Herbert Ukuta, Venerable Dr. Nnamdi Ijeudo, Prof. Mrs. Helen Nwamba, Hon. Celestine Ogbu and Hon. Kentus Eze reiterated the group’s stance on zoning.
They enjoined Governor Ugwuanyi to remain focused, prayerful, and steadfast in his efforts at entrenching peace, good governance, and effective political leadership in Enugu State.
They re-assured the governor that members of group, are behind him and his political decisions in respect of the choice of his successor and other engagements ahead of the 2023 general elections.
