ORSU SOUTH PEOPLE’S PROGRESSIVE ASSEMBLY (In Fairness,Equity And Justice we Stand)
APC TICKETS CANT BE HIJACKED AS IT CONTRAVENES SHARE PROSPERITY MANTRA: ORSU SOUTH FACES MORAL OBLIGATION TO UPHOLD EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTIVE POLITICAL OFFICES
The Orsu South People’s Progressive Assembly is an Organisation of committed patriots of Orsu South political bloc in Orsu Local Government Area of Imo State comprising the following electoral wards; Okwuamarihe 1, Orsu-Ihiteukwa, Okwuamarihe 2,Okwufuraku, Okwuetiti and Ebenator.
The Organisation is fully in support of the the APC led government of Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma CON(Onwa Oyoko) and the identifies with his developmental strides and deliberate efforts to transform Imo State to a modern model State.
Of particular and great importance to our Organisation is the vision of equitable distribution of political offices in line with established zoning arrangements among various blocs and zones in the adjoining political zones and the 27 Council Areas of the State. That singular foresight and initiative to uphold such power sharing templates has reduced the tide of rancour, unhealthy political rivalry, bickering and unwarranted animosity that hitherto characterised the Imo political landscape prior to his ascendancy.
The politics of divide and rule,winner takes all, survival of the fittest and unnecessary waste of scarce resources has been either been erased completely or reduced to the barest minimum.The Governor has continued to promote merit, equity, fairness, justice, and reward for loyalty in ceding political positions to individuals and political blocs.
Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State has successfully laid a solid foundation for a virile democracy that will thrive against odds because it is rooted in justice.He has quietly planted the reign of political peace, harmonious coexistence, consensus building,unity of purpose and constructive engagement.Under the Shared Prosperity Government of Senator Hope Uzodimma, zoning and reward for loyalty have been exhumed where they were buried and enshrined as working tools.
Orsu Local Government Area has an existing sharing arrangement between the two political blocs of Orsu South and Orsu North.The two statutory political positions of the House of Assembly Member and Executive Chairman of the Council are rotated and amicably alternated at each given electoral season.When the Council Chairman is zoned to the South, the House of Assembly slot naturally gets ceded to the North.This trend has subsisted and has always been mutually respected.The good news is that the Governor has supported and encouraged this healthy arrangement that aligns with his shared Prosperity philosophy.
Not quite long ago, the challenge of deciding on this path of equitocratic model cropped up and he stood with the proponents of this ancient landmark template that has tarried for decades.Little wonder,in 2022 State House of Assembly APC primary, the slot was zoned to the North where it belongs which Hon Agabige is the beneficiary.Also, in 2024 Council Chairman APC primary, the slot was zoned to Orsu South, Orsu -Ihiteukwa to be precise which Hon Friday Ibekaeme is the beneficiary.
It is also interesting to note that in keeping with both zoning and reward to loyalty template, the two beneficiaries not only from the favoured zones but also tested, trusted and proven party loyalists that have paid their dues.The Governor did not abandon those that have been with him and threw up emergency and food is ready supporters.This implies the consciousness and consistency of the system in upholding this untainted and unmatchable policy of zoning,merit and rewarding loyalty.
As the 2027 electoral season draws nearer,we as patriots of Orsu South extraction wish to echo it loud and clear that we unequivocally reaffirm this existing zoning formula and further insist that positions due to the Southern bloc should as well be micro zoned to either of the electoral wards that have been conspicuously unrepresented,not captured and grossly marginalised in the distribution of political positions.
In 1999, House of Assembly slot zoned to the South was ceded to Orsu-Ihiteukwa which Hon Geff Ojinika benefited.In 2003 when the Chairmanship position got zoned to the South, it was ceded to Ebenator where Hon Charles Okeke was the beneficiary.When the House of Assembly slot returned to the South in 2007, when Charles Okeke’s tenure was elapsing, the State Assembly slot got ceded to the same Ebenator with Hon Stan Dara as a beneficiary.
In 2011, the House of Assembly slot was ceded again to the same Ebenator and Hon Dara got reelected.In 2018, When the Council Chairman position was zoned/returned to the South,it was micro zoned to Okwuamarihe ward 1 through Hon Ndubuisi Okonkwo from Obibi Village as beneficiary. Again, when House of Assembly slot returned/zoned to the South in 2019,it got ceded to Okwuamarihe ward 1 which Hon Stainless Nnodumele from Obibi Village is beneficiary.
The above illustration vividly captures how elective political offices have been distributed in Orsu South since the return of democracy in 1999.It clearly gives insight into those that have been benefitting to the detriment of others and such dominance should be reviewed to allow power to rotate among contending wards in Orsu South.
The exposé above shows that Ebenator, Orsu-Ihiteukwa and Okwuamarihe ward 1 have had more than enough political representation while Okwuetiti, Okwuamarihe ward 2 and Okwufuraku have completely been alienated as if they are strangers in Orsu Local Government Area.However Okwuamarihe ward 2 being from the same Okwuamarihe Autonomous Community is obviously protected and does not have any moral high ground protest over any form of marginalization. A closer look shows that Okwuetiti and Okwufuraku are under serious political stranglehold which makes it necessary for immediate special attention and intervention to liberate them.
In the final analysis it is only fair and just that anybody from either Okwufuraku or Okwuetiti should be considered for any elective office due to the South in the next electoral season.
The people of Orsu South must rise to the occasion and compelling moral challenge and insist that whatever we do aligns with the spirit and letters of the Shared Prosperity mantra of Governor Uzodimma which ensures that various blocs are fairly treated when political offices are zoned to them.
Senator Uzodimma has through his witty and wise approach in extraordinary statecraft-manship resolved problem of political tensions by supporting equitable distribution of political positions.Our local leaders should as well domesticate and replicate this in Orsu as being promoted by the Governor. We can’t continue to pretend over these things and keep accusing other Nigerians of marginalizing South East whereas at the home front we promote injustice and the worst level of marginalization of our own brothers.It is the height of double standard and hypocrisy for this to continue in Orsu South.
We trust that our people will wake up from their slumber and indifference and ensure that positions rotate in Orsu South.That will discourage those that believe in hijacking and stealing of positions under the crude mentality of only me syndrome.It should be seen and done as a brotherly thing whereby the popular Igbo axiom of Ndi oruru ha ejee and Oke zuo onu ogbu alaa is upheld.
Signed
For the Central Working Committee of Orsu South People’s Progressive Assembly