Respect Anambra Political Zoning Formula’ – Anambra Youths Warn PDP’s Ekwunife, Okonkwo, Nwoye

‘BY NWEKE NWEKE (AWKA)

A coalition of youth activists under auspices of Concerned Youths of Anambra State, CYAS, at the weekend issued a stern warning to the People’s Democratic Party aspirants contesting for the party’s ticket who are not from Anambra South .

The aspirants the group named in their statement, issued from Onitsha, are the senator representing Anambra Central senatorial district, Senator Iyom Uche Lilian Ekwunife, Hon. Tony Nwoye (Anambra North senatorial district) and Dr. Obiora Okonkwo (Anambra Central).

Comrade Stanley Ezenwa, the group’s spokesperson, urged the three aspirants to instantly withdraw from their plan(s) to thwart the political zoning treaty in Anambra State, an arrangement the group said has brought fairness, equity, and justice to Anambra polity.

In the statement, Ezenwa acknowledged that Iyom Uche Ekwunife, Hon. Tony Nwoye and Dr. Obiora Okonkwo are all qualified to contest for any political positions in the country, including that of the governor in Anambra State, it is, however, against the principles of fairplay, justice, and equity for the trio to attempt to snatch the ticket from the South.

The group urged the Ekwunife, Okonkwo and Nwoye to honour the zoning agreement in the southeastern state and wait for the turn of their respective zones, saying that “these politicians are still young and have enough time to consolidate their influence to win the governorship when it is the turn of their respective zones to produce the governor”.

“We have considered the various factors in an election and believe that it is to the overall interest of Anambra for Anambra South to produce the governor,” the statement read.

“The zoning arrangement in Anambra is one that has brought about phenomenal development to each of the zones in the recent past.

“The zoning agreement is based on the ancient principles of fairness, justice, and equity, and it is uncharitable for any indigene of Anambra, no matter how well placed to seek to overturn an agreement reached by respected elders of our community.

“We feel that it bestowed on the youths to prevail on the woman senator and two others to do the needful and protect their future political careers,” CYAS said in the statement.

The group, which comprises more than 4,000 active members with chapters in the 21 local government areas of Anambra State, also warned the PDP’s leadership against godfatherism and advice that both the national and state leaders of the party should work hard to ensure that its flagbearer comes from Anambra South.

The group also condemned reports that alumni of the National Assembly in the party were collaborating with Senator Ekwunife to corrupt the internal democratic processes.

“It is quite unfortunate that former legislators like Anyim Pius Anyim, the Governor of Sokoto, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and former Imo Governor, Emeka Ihediora are being fingered in the attempts to doctor results of the 3-man congresses held by the PDP on June 11, 2021,” the group said.

“We find it curious that these men, non are indigenes of Anambra, would be so interested in harming the democracy of our dear state.

“If the reports that we have received are true, then it means these men would have declared enmity with the people of Anambra.

“I don’t think their political careers, especially those of them from the South East and those of them with presidential ambitions, will see the light of day after this disgraceful outing. We certainly pray that the reports we are hearing about these men attempting to arm-twist the people of Anambra to install a stooge as the flagbearer of our party is untrue. For their sake, more than for the sake of Anambra,” the statement ended tersely.

Efforts made to reach accused politicians as at the time of hitting the press failed even as the media aide to Senator Uche Ekwunife demanded we first send him our report for review, which is unethical, to the media profession.

Text messages to the former secretary to the federation government, Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governor Idedioha, and Governor Tambuwal went unreplied as at the time of filing this report.