Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Communities in Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, have unanimously agreed that it is the turn of the Council area to represent the Oyi and Ayamelum Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.
The unanimous decision was made at the end of a one day summit, on Wednesday, at Umunya, organised by stakeholders in the council area with the Catholic Auxiliary Bishop of Onitsha Archdiocese, Most Rev. Dennis Isizor, in attendance.
Chief Convener of the summit, Dr. Peter Egenti in a remark said that in view of Oyi/Ayamelum political history and peculiarity as a large local government area, zoning of house of representative position for the federal seat remains a sure basis for the Unity of the zone adding that with their position after the summit that the summit is making it mandatory for all political parties in the Federal Constituency to respect the zoning formula when determining political offices.
Mr. Godwin Ibekwe moved a motion for the decision that it is the turn of Oyi Council area since Ayamelum is about completing two tenures as agreed, and a counter motion came from Chief Okey Umeano who moved that the meeting be rescheduled for more members of the council area to be part of the summit.
At the end, an option A4 means of voting was used where those in support of the first motion that it is the turn of Oyi were sixty-three in number while the second motion that called for another meeting had one vote.
A stakeholder from Oyi and an aspirant for the Federal seat, Chief Ekene Enefe noted that the decision was in the best interest of Ayamelum people since according to him, Oyi will always win judging by the fact that they have the highest number of wards.
Speaking after presentation of the communiqué in the presence of representatives from Ayamelum, the Deputy Transition Committee Chairman for Ayamelum Council area, Mr. John Icheke said the rotation formula is the best for all concerned as it would not only engender peace, but will also reduce the cost of campaign in the area.
Deliberating on the issues, Mr. Edwin Aghadinuno, Mr Augustine Ilozue and several others went down Memory Lane on the turn- out of events before the military took over power, and how it was resolved that the position will be rotational as approved by both council areas.
All the communities that make up the council area which are, Umunya, Ogbunike, Awkuzu, Nteje and Nkwelle-Ezunaka as well as all the political parties were present at the summit.