As the local government elections in Rivers State approaches, a political group known as A Coalition of Andoni people has called for the zoning of the Chairmanship of the local government to Unyeada, one of the zones of the local government area.
At a press conference held at Ngo, headquarters of the local government area recently, the group said that having watched the other zones produce previous, the right thing to do now was to allow Unyeada produce the next Chairman of the local government.
The coalition said Asarama had occupied the seat for nine years, Ataba 16 years, and Ngo has enjoyed the House of Representatives seat for 10 years.
One of the proponents of the zoning of the Chairmanship to Unyeada, Esuikup Obediah said, there was the need for Unyeada to be allowed to complete the tenure of the last person from the zone to be Chairman before the seat rotates to other areas.
But another Andoni citizen, Unye-awaji rebutted the claim of the coalition saying, Unyeada had in the past enjoyed the seat of the Chairman of the local government.
Describing the agitation by Unyeada proponents as mischievous, Unye-Awaji said, “After an Asarama man was privileged to govern our beloved council for six years from 1999 till 2006, Ngo had theirs for six years. Our beloved Unyeada had theirs for seven years and four months (Emilia Gilbert three years, Paul Lawrence three years, then others did one year four months as caretaker of council).”
He said that if a Unyeada man wants to contest, let him freely do so without appealing to sectional sentiments. “In the end, all we want is to see Obolo develop and not instigate tribal sentiment.”
Mr. Samuel Offigwung, in his reaction, urged the people to eschew sentiments and emotions in politics. “We can’t keep recycling the old pattern and expect different result. It’s time we start choosing leaders especially at grassroots level base on their track record, capacity and vision, not where they come from.
“Let the people decide freely and consciously who becomes their next Local Government Chairman based on the legacy the person has already built. Until we learn to place competence above tribe, true progress will continue to elude us,” he said.
Maapie Boniface another Andoni citizen said, elections ought to be thrown open to every qualified person to contest and let the best person win.
Awajis Josiah-Chijindu said she was not concerned about where the next chairman would come from. “All I want is good governance, our people have suffered enough in the hands of bad politicians. We want development just like every other local government.”
Matthew Nsan Patrick said the issue should be about who would perform better than the others.
Frank Macaulay however, wondered why the Coalition was revolting against the choice of the FCT Minister for the ticket of the next election, Mr. Erastus Awortu. He said, “For you to form a coalition against a leader that E.N. Wike gave to Andoni as a messiah, then you are also daring the FCT Minister who has not found his faithful son guilty of any offence.”
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