Anambra 2021: Group canvases Governor of Anambra South extraction

A group, the Anambra South Peoples Assembly (ASPA) has canvassed for the election of a governorship candidate from Anambra South Senatorial District in 2021.

The Executive Director of ASPA, Mr Isaac Onuka made the appeal while addressing newsmen shortly after an executive meeting of the body at Nnewi on Monday.

Onuka noted that Anambra South Senatorial zone has not had a fair share of the zoning pattern where other zones successfully produced governors, who completed two terms in office.

He said since the creation of the state in 1991, Anambra South only produced Dr Chinweoke Mbadinuju, a governor, whose single term in office ended as a result of political turmoil.

“The next governor, Dr Chris Ngige from Anambra Central could not complete his first tenure too but the zone yet produced another governor in the person of Mr Peter Obi, who governed for eight years.

“Former Gov. Obi made the zoning arrangement more pronounced when he appealed to give the governorship mandate to Anambra North Senatorial zone in the spirit of the existing brotherhood, fairness and equity.

“On March 17, 2014, the present governor of the State, Chief Willie Obiano was elected based on the arrangement and is also rounding-off his second tenure of eight years,” he recalled.

Onuka urged Gov. Obiano, stakeholders from other zones as well as political parties to support a governorship candidate from Anambra South zone to pilot the affairs of the state for eight years.

He said the group had commenced sensitisation and mass mobilisation of the people of the state to pursue and ensure the actualisation of their course.
However, the executive director said the group would only identify with political parties that consider its interest during the 2021 governorship election in the state.

The Press Statement

Good afternoon, the good peopleof Anambra South Senatorial Zone, the press crew, Ndi Anambra at home and abroad, fellow Nigerians, ladies and gentlemen. It is with great concern, sense of duty and patriotism that we call for this press briefing today. ANAMBRA SOUTH PEOPLES’ ASSEMBLY is a social platformformed to unit, harness and project the interest of Ndi Anambra South Senatorial Zone as a major contributor to the State economy and major player in the State politics.

Anambra state was created on the 3rd of February 1976,when the East Central State was divided into Anambra and Imo States. Anambra was further divided in 1991 to produce Enugu and the present New Anambra State. The New Anambra State has 3 Senatorial Zones which include Anambra South, Anambra North and Anambra Central. Since her creation, the New Anambra State has gone through different political and economic revolutions, including the good, the bad and the ugly ones under different leaders. Starting from the 1st democratically elected governor, after Nigeria’ return to democracy in 1999, Chinwoke Mbadinauju (Odera) to the present governor Chief Willie Obiano.

 Whereby the 3 Senatorial Zones that make up the New Anambra State, namely: Anambra North with-Onitsha North and South, Oyi, Amyamelum, Anambra East and West and  Ogbaru local governments, Anambra South has-Ihiala, Nnewi North and South, Ekwusigo, Aguata, Orumba North and South, while, Anambra Central has Awka North and South, Anaocha, Njikoka, Dunukofia, Idemili North and south local governments respectively. These 3 Senatorial Zones has maintained a zoning pattern since her creation, each zone produces governor in turn after the successful completion of two tenure of office by the other Zone.

For instance, Dr.Chinweoke Mbadinuju the 1st governor of the State after Nigeria’ return to civil rule in 1999 was sworn-in on the 29th May 1999, is from Anambra South, though his administration was marred with political tumults and ended without a second term in office. The next governor was Dr. Chris Nwabueze Ngige who was equally sworn-in on the 29th May 2003, from Anambra Central, Dr.Ngige could not complete his 1st tenure due to similar political trouble that ended the Administration of Dr.Chinweoke Mbadinuju but, Anambra central yet produced another governor in the person of Mr. Peter Obi from Agulu in Anaocha L.G. who was sworn-in on 17th of Match 2006 and served for 8 years as the governor of the State, summing it up to 11 years of Anambra central holding the position.  Towards the end of Mr. Peter Obi’s Administration he made the zoning arrangement more pronounced by appealing to Ndi Anambra to give the governorship mandate to Anambra North Senatorial Zone and in the Spirit of the existing Brotherhood, fairness and Equity, Ndi Anambra went North on the 17th of Match 2014 and elected the present governor of the State Chief Willie Obiano who is also rounding up his 2nd tenure of 8 years.

Ndi Anambra umuneanyi, as citizens, indigenes and peoples of Anambra South Senatorial Zonewe can only expect that as the next Anambra governorship election approaches in 2021, as apeaceful, united and understanding people that it is the turn of Anambra South Senatorial Zone to produce the next governor of the State to pilot the affairs of the State for the next 4 -8 years as other Zones have done and  that Anambra South Senatorial Zone is ready and prepared to take the mantle of leadership in 2021.

Therefore, we are calling on Anambra Central and Anambra North Senatorial zones and indeedNdi Anambra in general both home and abroad to come out in mass to support Anambra South in this noble mandate in the spirit of equity and fairness, so that together, we can user-in a new political and economic era in Anambra State

We request all the Political Parties in Anambra State to field candidates from Anambra South Senatorial Zone so that Ndi Anambra can have a wide range of options to choose from the arrays of candidates from Anambra South as we go into the election in 2021.

In view of the forgoing, we use this occasion to appeal and advise all the political Parties in the State to field candidates from Anambra South Senatorial Zone for the governorship position in 2021.

ANAMBRA SOUTH PEOPLES’ ASSEMBLY has commenced sensitizations and mass mobilization of the people to pursue and ensure the actualization of this noble course and will be on ground to continue to provide support and guidance to the emerging government  in meeting the needs of  the generality of Ndi Anambra.

 All roads lead to Anambra South in 2021

If is not Anambra South, is not equity!

Thank you ladies and gentlemen and God bless Anambra State.