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Enugu Legislative Summit: 260 Ward Councillors blow hot on rotation of power, set to resist attempt to truncate zoning

Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

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The ward councillors representing the 260 wards of the 17 LGAs in Enugu State have reiterated their support to the governor and his right to choose his successor in what they described as a tradition in Enugu’s political space, which has sustained peace and stability in the state.

They made the call in Enugu, Friday, at their legislative summit held at the ALGON Secretariat, which had all 260 councillors in attendance.

In a Communiqué signed by the 17 LGA Legislative Leaders and made available to our Enugu correspondent, they commended ENSIEC for conducting a free, fair, transparent and credible local council election in Enugu State.

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Key speakers during the summit were Prof. Fred Eze, Enugu State Chairman of Ohaneze Ndigbo, and Hon. Onyekachi Ugwu, former Chairman of Udenu LGC. They x-rayed the conduct of the election and all agreed that the election was free, fair and transparent, as even acknowledged by about five opposition parties that participated.

The Forum of Councillors also passed a vote of confidence on the Governor, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for his commitment to freeing the democratic space, engineering peace, security and his disposition not to gag the opposition, all of which made the conduct of the free and fair election in the state possible.

The communiqué read

“On the just concluded Enugu State Local Government election, the Councillors commended the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commision (ENSIEC) for the conduct of the 18th February, 2022 Local Government election which was adjudged by both local and international election observers as free, fair and credible. We hereby call on the Independent National Electoral Commission to borrow a leaf from the ENSIEC in conducting and delivering free, fair and credible elections especially in 2023.

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“The Councillors with a standing ovation passed a vote of confidence on a true democrat, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Lawrence Ugwuanyi, who has efficiently ended the use of appointment over elections.The 260 Councillors further commended His Excellency on his approach towards governance which has seen Enugu State enjoying peace and strategic development even in the face of insecurity plus economic challenges currently ravaging the country.

“We hereby condemn in strong terms the attitude of some political parties and/or political gladiators who have become so desperate ahead of the 2023 general elections, or with their kind of politics, have continued to scuffle the efforts of His Excellency and his great works in Enugu State in the area of peace, development and brotherliness. We enjoin all and sundry to join hands with His Excellency to continue with the good work he is doing in Enugu State.

“We sincerely thank the 17 Local Government Area Chairmen, individually and severally, for the manner they have related with the councilors as partners in the progress of the Local Government Areas, and not threats. We further wish to thank more particularly the ALGON Chairman, Hon. Solomon Onah Izuchukwu, for redefining grassroot leadership which has metamorphosed into progressive councillors of today in Enugu State. We hereby undertake to work closely with the Chairmen and make good legislation for the betterment of the people.

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“We noted that it is a tradition in Enugu State that the Governor who is the leader of the state decides the most qualified person to succeed him; the arrangement has brought stability in Enugu State political space since the return of democracy in 1999. It is the prerogative of the Governor and the tradition of his predecessors to anoint a candidate who will continue with his good works, hence we call on the Governor to show us the light as we pledge to align completely, also noting that the 260 councilors who are statutory delegates shall ensure that their bloc votes shall be to the choice of the Governor to the exclusion of no vote.

“We reaffirm the position of the Peoples Democratic Party Enugu State on zoning of the Governorship position to Enugu East Senatorial zone. Any candidate contesting from any other zone is fomenting trouble and same shall be treated as same.

“We appraised our responsibilities, particularly as it affects us as the representatives of the grassroots, since it is said that every politics is local; the meeting agrees that it has a vital role to play for the success of the 2023 general elections. We therefore agreed to make a guideline for the 260 Councilors which will guide our conduct ahead of, within and after the 2023 elections so that the welfare of the people we are elected to represent will be evenly protected; gone are the days when councillors are sidelined, neglected and/or relegated to the background in the scheme of things. We hereby urge all the necessary stakeholders to carry the forum along and most importantly, oblige us our deserved rights and privileges.

“The Summit enjoined all the 260 councilors to raise awareness of the voters registration in the grassroot and called on indigenes/residents of Enugu State to take advantage of the ongoing registration of Voters by INEC to register to vote, thereby arming themselves with the requisite tools to elect their leaders”.

Other dignitaries in attendance were the Speaker of the Enugu State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Edward Ubosi and the Chairman of ALGON, Hon. Solomon Izuchukwu Onah