Nnewi Mayorship: No Community Will Be Shortchanged Under My Watch – PG
Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
The President-General of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, Hon. Prince Jude Osumuoh, has assured that no quarter in Nnewi will be marginalized in the rotation of the Nnewi North Local Government mayorship, declaring that the established tenure for each quarter remains four years.
Speaking at the Nzuko Ora secretariat in Nnewi on Friday, Osumuoh said his administration would uphold fairness and equity in the power-sharing arrangement among Umudim, Nnewichi, Uruagu and Otolo, stressing that the town’s unity would not be compromised by political interests.
The PG was reacting to renewed claims on social media that the 1997 power-sharing agreement among the four quarters provides for a single tenure for the office of Local Government Chairman. He dismissed the claims as a politically motivated narrative aimed at stirring unnecessary tension ahead of future elections.
Osumuo said: “We do not have any problem sharing what belongs to Nnewi till today. Everyone knows that our tenureship is four years. Every leadership position in Nnewi is four years, including President-General, Local Government Chairman, House of Assembly and every other political position in Nnewi town.”
He stated that the issue of tenure had long been resolved in Nnewi, with no record of anyone serving a two-year term, as the established agreement provides for a four-year tenure. He affirmed his commitment to maintaining the four-year arrangement, noting that Nnewi’s traditional method of handling leadership rotation has always ensured peace and understanding without any problems.
The PG further faulted a document circulating online and purported to be the 1997 agreement, describing it as an unsigned draft with no legal standing.
He said: “As the President-General of Nnewi, I have never seen the agreement document they are flying about. It does not exist in my records as one of the documents of Nnewi. It is only existing on social media. And if you look closely, it is not signed by anyone. It is not possible to work with an unsigned document. If it is Nnewi’s document, it should be under my custody as the PG, but I don’t have it.”
On the current occupant of the Nnewi North mayoral seat, Osumuo absolved Hon. Echezona Anazodo of any wrongdoing, explaining that it was Umudim, the Mayor’s community, that requested him to complete its rightful term.
He said: “This is not a matter for the current Mayor of Nnewi North LGA, but his community, Umudim. It is they that brought him out and want him to complete his tenure. Even if he says he is not contesting again, Umudim will bring out another candidate.”
The PG outlined the rotation sequence, adding that after Umudim completes its tenure, power would shift to Nnewichi, then Uruagu and Otolo before returning to Umudim.
He said: “Umudim have not finished their tenure. When they finish, Nnewichi will take their four years to serve. We are not going to shortchange any quarter under my watch. In Nnewi, each of the quarters serves for four years and there was wide consultation in that regard.”
Osumuoh also addressed reports that Nnewichi Quarter had withdrawn from Nzuko Ora Nnewi and would not participate in the forthcoming Afia Olu Nnewi festival. He described the move as politically motivated.
According to him: “It is not possible to pull out of Nzuko-Ora and still be answering Nnewi. All these they are doing about leaving Nzuko-Ora are mere politics. They know the truth, but there are those that are in a haste to lead.”
The PG dismissed claims that the Igwe of Nnewi, Igwe Kenneth Orizu III, could be withdrawn from the annual Afia Olu festival, describing such suggestions as misleading.
He said: “Igwe Nnewi is the Afia Olu and no one can say they will stop him from participating in it. It is Igwe that will declare the event open, so whoever that is saying contrary is deceiving himself.”
