Our correspondent
Contrary to expections, stakeholders from the four council areas of omambala clan of Anambra East and West,Oyi and Ayamelum, have failed to adopt Mrs Ebelechukwu Obiano, as the senatorial candidate of the bloc.
The stakeholders, it was gathered, converged on Aguleri to deliberate on how to present a consensus senatorial candidate for the Anambra North senatorial District Election, scheduled to hold on the 25th of February 2023.
Our correspondents reports: The people of omabala are in the same senatorial Zone with onitsha and ogbaru council areas.
In his opening speech during the political dialogue, tagged Omabala for senate 2023.The traditional Ruler of Aguleri,igwe Mike ldigo , said the ongoing effort to ensure the emergence of an omabala person as the next senator of Anambra North senatorial District calls for unity of purpose, adding that it is only through dialogue that this can be achieved.
According to the traditional Ruler,
the contest is not a fight but a political matter that requires lobbying.He prayed for peace and togetherness among the people of omabala area, while expressing regret about the communal conflict between Omor and Anaku Communities in Ayamelum council area.
In his address, the convener of omabala polical Agenda,chief Alex onukwue, a former president of Anambra state Association of Town unions,ASATU, said he decided to create a forum for the political participation of Omabala people, especially for those contesting for the senatorial seat of the zone,who are clamouring for the election of an Omabala person among the five polical parties contesting for the Anambra North senatorial District Election. According to chief onukwue, the senatorial flagbearers of these parties, have accepted that, it is the turn of omabala people to produce the next senator from the zone.
The former ASATU Boss said that there is need for the candidates to talk to themselves, with the aim of choosing a consensus candidate.
He said senator Stella odua from onitsha/ogbaru axis is about completing her second term of eight years and the position should automatically shift to omabala area, in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.
Chief onukwue said onitsha/ogbaru axis have done thirteen years, in the senate, while omabala is still struggling with eleven years.chief onukwue said the five contestants from the omabala area are eminently qualified to represent the zone in the senate, stressing that since all of them cannot be senators at the same time, there is need for a consensus candidate, to avoid returning the slot to onitsha/ogbaru axis,
that has only PDP candidate senator Stella odua.The five contestants from omabala contesting in different political parties are (1) Dr Tony Nwoye of labour party.(2) chief (Dr) Ebelechukwu obiano of APGA.(3)Mr Nelson onubuogu of APC, whose position as the flagbearer of his party is still under dispute.(4)Mr Julius igwebuike okoye of YPP and (5)Mrs uzoamaka obimso of ADC.
In her speech the leader of umuada Omabala, Mrs Goodie ogbogu said the people of the area should remedy the present imbalance between Omabala and onitsha/ogbaru in the representation at the senate, adding that allowing the present occupant of the senatorial seat to do a third term is totally unacceptable.she said the people of Omabala region are too big to be relegated to the background.
Mrs ogbogu noted that, it will not be an easy task to ask any of the flagbearers of polical parties, to step down saying that the present move to unite Omabala people is a wake-up call.
She expressed regret about the neglect of the women of Omabala area, while calling for their inclusion in subsequent appointments.she said oyi people have not received their fair share of the dividends of democracy. One of the speakers at the gathering, Mr Hyacinth
okoye said the area will settle for one of the candidates in the senatorial election, adding that a committee should be constituted immediately within three days to screen all candidates in the process, the candidate
with wide reach, grassroot oriented and ability to deliver will be selected as the consensus flagbearer of the people of Omabala in the Anambra North senatorial District Election.in her speech the APGA flagbearer chief Dr Ebelechukwu obiano represented by a former commissioner for works, Mr Marcel ifejiofor said the APGA candidate has what it takes to represent Anambra North, having been in the corridors of power for eight year and being supportive of her husband, this according to Mr ifejiofor will make the wife of the former governor of Anambra state to give the zone quality representation in the senate, as she will not succumb to intimadation.The former commissioner said the zone will benefit immensely from Mrs obiano, if elected ,as she is favorable disposed to to facilitate the dredging of the river Niger to prevent flooding in the region. He said Dr Mrs obiano was part of the success story of her husband’s
administration, which led to the building of an international Airport in the area and the construction of the longest bridge at Aguleri -otu among other projects.
Dr Tony Nwoye, one of the front-runners in the Anambra North senatorial Election was unavoidable absent in the meeting, during his tenure as a member of the House of Representatives,Dr Nwoye attracted alot of projects to Anambra East and west.After leaving office his projects in Anambra North senatorial District are still on going, making him a formidable contestant in the senatorial race.Dr Nwoye is presently enjoying the support of beneficiaries of his magnanimity, who are located in the seven council areas of Anambra North senatorial Zone.
Eight Traditional Rulers, Town union members,which includes the President_general of umunya, chief innocent Nwabueze were among Dignitaries that attended the meeting. Honourable Tony Nwakile, a chieftain of APGA was not left out during the gathering of the people of Omabala
