From Magnus Eze, Enugu
The people of Ogui Nike in Enugu North Local Government Area of Enugu State have said that it is their turn to produce the Chairman of the Council in the forthcoming election slated for October 2024.
Consequently, they appealed to Governor Peter Mbah not to allow their slot based on a rotation arrangement to be snatched from them.
President General of Ogui Nike people, Ifesinachi Alum insisted that the zoning arrangement was to have one of their sons clinch the ruling Peoples Democratic Party’s House of Assembly ticket in the 2023 general elections, but that was thwarted due to the ambition of Ibenaku Onoh, then a sitting member of the state legislature.
According to him, the ex-lawmaker’s re-election bid was against the spirit of the existing rotation agreement and the advice of his elder cousin, Dr. Joseph Onoh.
Alum who briefed newsmen in Enugu on the looming political impasse, recounted that but for the insistence of Ibenaku Onoh, the Assembly position would have been zoned to Ogui Nike Community. He explained that when the former lawmaker insisted and clinched the PDP ticket, they still voted for him with the hope that he will support Ogui Nike to secure the party’s ticket during the council poll.
“Even after losing the 2023 House of Assembly election, Ibenaku Onoh came with his people to thank the people of Ogui Nike and Umunevo Ogui Nike communities for their massive support. It is very surprising to now hear that he is gearing up to contest the upcoming Local Government election which ordinarily should be the turn of Ogui Nike.
“Therefore, what we are begging our governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, is to help stop this injustice being unleashed on the people of Ogui Nike,” Alum pleaded.
A major stakeholder in the area, Dr. Joseph Onoh, recently visited leaders of Ogui Nike and Umunevo Ogui Nike Communities where he argued that the 2024 Chairmanship of Enugu North LGA should automatically be zoned to Ogui Nike.