2023: Enugu East youths insists on zoning backed by merit

 

Asks Ugwuanyi, stakeholders to ensure Nkanu man becomes nexr gov

 

By Cosmas Chukwu

Youths of Nkanuland under the auspices of Nkanu Youths Assembly, converged on the Castle Majestic Hotel for the Enigi East Zonal Youth Summit under termed of “Zoning Based By Merit”, and re-echoed the stand of their people that the gubernatorial seat should be zone to Enugu East Senatorial zone .

Enugu East is almost coterminous with Nkanu land though Isiuzo LGA manifests affinity with the Nsukka block while a pocket Udi indigenes also form part of the zone.

Speaking to newsmen after the event,the Convener appealed to the state governor,Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and other state holders to ensure that the governorship position was zoned to Enugu East but to ensure that he chooses a fitting,young, competent and dynamic person as his successor as to do otherwise ” will spell doom to the people and their future”

While emphasizing merit coupled with zoning,Edeani insisted that Ugwuanyi’s successor should “a core Nkanu man”.

Answering a reporter’s on the position of Is Uzo LGA which is part of the Enugu East zone,Edeani equivocated that Is I Izo remains part of the zone but that parts of it clings to their Nsukka ancestry and restated that it has be a core Nkanu man that will succeed Ugwuanyi.

Reminded that the zoning has gone round and the contest should now be thrown open,the Nkanu Youth leader averred that in the interest of justice and peace,the zone should allowed to produce the next governor.

Earlier,in their separate speeches during the meeting,the duo of Prof Anselem Onyimoyi-Ego collaborated the stance of the youth insisting however that the contest should be based on merit,zoning and should all incisive for all in the zone.

They both felt tat only those with the requisite capacity should be picked so as to ensure that the next governor delivers the goods.

In a communiqué signed by the Convener and stakeholders at the meeting and  issued to journalists,the people of Enugu East through their youths resolved as follows:

“Our profound appreciation goes to the Almighty God who made

the success of the Enugu-East Stakeholders Summit a

verity. We also thank the distinguished keynote Speaker, other Speakers, the

Special Guests and of course the youth delegates.

 

Following the success of the Enugu-East youths stakeholders summit, we the stakeholders of youths drawn from all the Youth groups and organisations in the 6 local government areas of Enugu East Senatorial zone at the end of the expanded Summit held with other critical Youth Stakeholders in Enugu State, today, the 10th day of March 2022, hereby agree to  the followings:

“1. That we are pleased with the stability, peace and unity in Enugu State, especially the political understanding enthroned by justice, equity and fairness through Zoning.

 

“2. That we recognize that the Enugu gubernatorial zoning pact is a tripod agreement established to incorporate all the three senatorial Zones in Enugu State; Enugu East, Enugu West and Enugu North Senatorial Zone and that we hereby fully endorse and reaffirm our full support.

 

“3. That Enugu State is among the few in the country that enjoys political harmony on account of adherence to zoning or rotation of key political offices in the three senatorial districts especially the governorship seat since 1999.

 

“4.  That Senator Chimaroke Nnamani from Enugu East was the state governor from 1999 to 2007, Bar. Sullivan Chime from Enugu West took over from 2007 to 2015 while the incumbent Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi from Enugu North is expected to complete the cycle in 2023.

 

“5. That it is expected that the governorship slot returns to Enugu East senatorial zone for the second round of the rotation in 2023 and that we hereby support and declare publicly that it is the turn of Ndi Nkanu to produce Enugu state Governor come 2023.

 

“6. That we the Youths of Enugu-East Senatorial zone thank our governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his unprecedented development in Enugu state, his commitment to youth empowerment and participation in politics and his support for the sustenance of zoning pact in Enugu State.

 

 

“7. That we the youths of Enugu East Senatorial zone understand the value of having a competent and capable leader at the helm of Enugu affairs and that we have decided to support any competent Nkanu man, with a proven track record of quality leadership, administration, human capital development, youth inclusion and good governance.

 

 

“8. That Youths of Enugu East Senatorial zone hereby appeal to our dear governor, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi to choose and support any Credible, Competent and Capable Nkanu man irrespective of his local government of origin as his successor.

 

“9. That Youths of Enugu East Senatorial zone has agreed to unite under the Nwa Nkanu umbrella and hereby condemn in strong terms every other local government based movement or any consultations clamouring for their individual interests such as Ka Isi Uzo Jee, Ka Nkanu West Jee, Ka Enugu East Jee, Ka Nkanu East Jee, Ka Enugu South Jee, Ka Enugu North Jee, etc as they are only dividing us instead of Uniting the sons and daughters of Nkanu land towards a collective Nwa Nkanu Agenda.

 

“10. That Nkanu Youths are aware of some saboteurs betraying the collective interest of our nation,  we hereby call on the very few to retrace else be prepared to face the music of thousands of Nkanu youths.

 

“11. That we are also conscious of some desperate politicians and their political jobbers trying to induce chaos and instability in Enugu state by their failed bid to truncate the zoning arrangement, we hereby warn them to wake up from the feverish dream as any further undertaking will be fiercely resisted.

 

“12. We thank Ndi Enugu state for keeping faith with the government of Enugu state and Nkanu nation assuring them that we the Nkanu youths will work with like-minded personalities in the state to ensure that a competent Nkanu man emerges as Enugu state governor come next year.

 

“13. Stakeholders present at the well-attended summit include: Professor Anselem Onyimoyi Ego – Keynote Speaker. Professor Chinwuba Owoh – Guest Speaker and Chukwuma Ephraim Okenwa (CEO) – Guest Speaker as well as Hon Edeani M .Edeani, the Convener and Chairman of Nkanu Youths Assembly who doubles as an aide to Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi as well as other stakeholders and youths from the zone.