Anambra 2021: GAFORUM, others insist on A’South producing next governor

Maduako Igbokwe l Saturday, Sept.26, 2020

ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – Ahead of Anambra State 2021 governorship election, Great Anambra Forum (GAFORUM) and other stakeholders in the state have insisted on Anambra south senatorial District producing the next governor of the state.

The stakeholders include religious leaders, political leaders across parties and professional bodies. Speaking​ during a stakeholders symposium organised by GAFORUM, Awka, in preparation for the next year election, the facilitator of the body, Engr. Fabian Ozoigbo said the people of  Anambra state must respect​ the mutual existing zoning arrangement established by God Almighty in the state by using Mr. Peter Obi, the former governor.

He maintained that the forum will continue to propagate the gospel of rotation of office of the Governor among the three Senatorial Zones of Anambra North, South and Central.

He warned​ the ruling All Progressive Grand Alliance APGA, People Democratic Party PDP, the All Progressive Congress APC and other political parties interested in​ contesting the election not to deny the people of the South Senatorial District their right of governorship position for the interest of peace, justice fairness and equity.

He equally advised politicians and their political ​ parties to zone their ticket to Anambra South Senatorial Zone and beam their searchlight on credible candidates from the zone with requisite character, exposure, proven integrity, sound education, competence and cognate experience for the job.

“A contestant must not only have a visible means of livelihood, but must have also impacted positively on lives, especially from within state. The issue of power shift is as old as Anambra State. In fact, God started the application of rotational arrangement in Anambra State in 1992 and not manmade, when out of divine providence, a wealthy contestant and literally speaking, the candidate to beat in the election, was disqualified.

“His disqualification set the stage for governorship contest between Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife of the defunct Social Democratic party (SDP) and Sen. Nnamdi Eriobuna of the National Republic Convention (NRC) both from Anambra South. Eventually Dr. Ezeife won the election in 1992 and became the first civilian Governor from the Southern Senatorial Zone” he said .

He gave graphic details of how the three Senatorial Zones have produced governors so far at different times: “Anambra South: Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife-2nd January 1992 to 17th November 1993, Dr. Chuwoke C Mbadinuju-29th May 1999 to 28th May 2003, Dame Virgy Etiaba-November 2006 to February 2007.

“Anambra Central: Dr. Chris Ngige-29th May 2003 to 16th March 2006, Mr. Peter Obi-17th March 2006 to 16th March 2014 while the North has only the incumbent Governor, Willie Obiano- 17th March 2014 to 16th March 2022.

“Now again, is the turn of the Anambra South to produced who will take over from Governor Willie Obiano”, he said.

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Also speaking during the event, Honorable Peter Onuorah, former Majority leader, Anambra State House of Assembly, said the rotation of governorship position in the state would serve as panacea for lasting peace and tranquility among Anambra people.

​ Onuorah, who is currently the President General of Anaku community, in Ayamelum Council area of the state, urged political parties especially, APGA, APC and PDP to select their candidates from the​ Anambra south for the sake of peace, equity and development.

According to him, Anambra state is long overdue for   equitable distribution of political positions among the three senatorial Districts .

“We know there are competent persons across the three zone and the state want peace and unity and the easiest way was to continue with the zoning and allowing Anambra south senatorial District to produce the next Governor” he said

Chairman of Anambra state Christian association of Nigeria CAN Rev. John Ndubisi , supporting the zoning arrangements said that if not for zoning the Evangelical Church of West Africa ECOWA would not have produced CAN chairman in the state .

“Without zoning I cannot be the chairman of CAN in Anambra state because we are the smallest in term of numerical strength  in the state” he said.

According to him, the zoning arrangements would reduce tension in the political arena of the state and bring fairness, justice and equity to the people of the state  and that zoning is the  only  way to bring peace  and harmony in the political understanding in the state .

GAFORUM is a non governmental organization and a political pressure group, made up of technocrats, professionals, politicians, leaders of association, trade unions and religious bodies set up in 1998 to positively shape and engineer the political landscape of Anambra State.It has functional presence in the 326 wards of the 21 local government areas of the state.

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The event witnessed the presence of the Direction General, Nigeria Inland Waterways Authority NIWA and Governor aspirant under APC, Chief George Mogahalu, the member representing Nnewi North/South/Ekwusigo Federal Constituency, Engr. Chris Azugbogu, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Dr.  John Ndubisi,and  representative of some governorship aspirants in the state and others