Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, has warned against imposition of candidates in the forthcoming local council elections in the state, as the leadership of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Aniocha South Council fights over chairmanship slot.
The governor, who spoke through his Chief of Staff, Johnson Erijo when he received the Concerned Nsukwa Clan Youths that raised concern over marginalisation, said “candidates that are generally accepted by the people will be fielded.”
Concerned Nsukwa Clan Youths who had protested over the undemocratic ways of running the party by the leadership of PDP, sought the governor’s intervention “before the situation gets worse.”
In a statement signed by Onyebuolise Andrew, Madu Destiny and five others, and made available to newsmen in Asaba, yesterday, the Nsukwa Clan Youths said: “We are constrained to inform you officially of the ill-treatment meted to Nsukwa clan, despite delivering the four wards 100 per cent for PDP in all elections”.
“We are demanding for the chairmanship slot of Aniocha South Local Council. Aniocha South Local Council with headquarters at Ogwashi-Uku is sitting on a tripod of three clans, namely: Ogwashi-Uku, Nsukwa and Ubulu clans.
“Since the inception of this democratic dispensation, Nsukwa clan has not been fairly treated and represented in terms of power allocation with respect to the three known statutory positions which include, but not limited to the House of Assembly position, chairmanship of the council and commissioner.
He explained that the House of Assembly position is currently being occupied by Chief Isaac Anwuzia of Ogwashi-Uku Clan as Ogwashi-Uku slot, while Jude Chukwunweike, the immediate past Council Chairman and biological brother of Joan Onyemaechi (Ada Anioma), the Commissioner of Technical education is still aspiring to come back as Chairman, at the expense of Nsukwa Clan.
“This is unacceptable to us this time around because it would be seen as the geese that lays the golden egg with no statutory / budgetary office”, adding:
“It will be callous and unconscionable of any system to reward failure at the expense of excellence”.
The clan youths urged the governor “to right these wrongs by ensuring that an Nsukwa clan son becomes the next Council Chairman for equity, justice, and fairness.