Ahead of the 2024 local government elections in Delta State, a group, Concerned Nsukwa Clan Youth, in Aniocha south local government area of the State, has kicked against what they described as “Manifest Marginalization”, of the geese that lays the golden egg.
A statement on Monday 29th April 2024, signed by Victor Bigwa and six others during a protest to government house, Asaba, the group lamented that the clan has suffered acute marginalization.
The group with various placards reads: “You cannot be the Commissioner representing Aniocha south, while your younger brother is the Chairman”, “Siblings of same parents cannot hold Aniocha south to ransom”.
Others are, “say no to family business”, “Nsukwa Clan massively voted for you in the 2023 election”, “Nsukwa Clan is the home base of PDP in Aniocha south”, “Zone Chairmanship to Nsukwa Clan of ASLGA”, ”
They said: “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 the House of Assembly, Chairmanship and Commissionership”.
The letter addressed to the State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori was copied to the former governor of the state, Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP Chairman, Delta North Senatorial District, Moses Iduh and PDP chairman, Aniocha south local government, Prince Mike Okwufulueze.
They cautioned the leadership of the party not to undermine the interest of Nsukwa Clan after it delivered its four wards 100 percent votes while those from Ubulu clan who are holding to power and pushing to remain in office lost their Units and Wards to Labour Party in the last general election.
On the zoning the Council Chairman to Nsukwa Clan, they said it would be callous and unconscionable of any system to reward failure at the expense of excellence.
The protest letter reads: “we are constrained to write to you the governor in connection with the above subject matter and to inform you officially of the ill treatment meted to Nsukwa clan.
“Aniocha South Local Government Area with headquarters at Ogwashi-Uku is sitting on a tripod of three clans; Ogwashi-Uku clan, Nsukwa clan and Ubulu clan.
“It is pertinent to inform you Sir, that 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 commissionership.
“Sir, at the moment, the House of Assembly position, is occupied by Hon. Chief Isaac Anwuzia of Ogwashi-Uku clan as Ogwashi-Uku slot, while Hon. Jude Chukwunweike, the immediate past Council Chairman and biological brother of Rt. Hon. Joan Onyemaechi (Ada Anioma), the Hon. Commissioner of Technical education is still aspiring to come back as Chairman, at the expense of Nsukwa clan the geese that lays the golden egg with no statutory/budgetary office.
“Sir, recall that in the last Gubernatorial/House of Assembly elections the aforementioned Ubulu clan gladiators, lost their Units/Wards to Labour Party, while Nsukwa Clan delivered their four Wards one hundred percent.
“It will be callous and unconscionable of any system to reward failure at the expense of excellence.
“The argument that Hon. Chief Isaac Anwuzia, the incumbent House of Assembly member went for Council chairmanship twice, is baseless and circumstantial, given the fact that as at that time, Hon. Austin Chikezie from Nsukwa Clan, was in the house of Assembly, while Hon. Lawrence Ejiofor was the Commissioner from Ubulu clan and as such, no clan was left vacant.
“Sir, we are by this letter, pleading passionately that you use your good offices to right these wrongs by ensuring that an Nsukwa clan son becomes the next Council Chairman for equity, justice, fairness and sense of belonging as anything short of this, may stultify our absolute loyalty to the party”, threatening that their patience have been stretched to its elastic limit.
Responding, the Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon Johnson Erijo said the governor and the party leaders are not going to impose any candidate anywhere in the State.
“I want to thank you, the concerned youths of Nsukwa clan, in Aniocha South, for coming out this was to express your grievances.
“From what you have all narrated, from the document you have given to us, you have been committed PDP members and you actually have done well in the last election. You proved that of course you are committed to the party, the PDP.
“We thank you because this is a proper way of expressing whatever grievances you may have, so that the party can remain united, as we pull forward to another election.
“The governor is currently not on seat, that is why he has mandated us to come and hear what brought you here and to speak with you. You have spoken to us, we have taken delivery of your letter.
“I am the chief of staff to the governor, with me here is the senior Political Adviser to the governor, Sen Agwhariawodo, and the Senior Policy Adviser to the Governor, Hon Funkekeme Solomon.
“The Governor has said emphatically that there will be no imposition of candidate anywhere in Delta state. It is only what you people, the people of Aniocha South want, that is what will be.
“The party is going to do what is right to make sure that we achieve victory, not only in the council elections, but in other subsequent elections.
“I want to thank you for coming, we have listened to you attentively and I want to assure you that we are going to do the right thing as a government and as a party.”
He assured them of fair treatments, saying nobody would be made to pass through unnecessary ill feelings in the party anymore.
